Holland House Reno

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February 18, 2008

Cool and Not So Cool "Finds"

Before I move on to some of the construction that has been happening, I want to share with you some of the cool and not so cool "finds" we had in the demo process. Under the "not so cool" category are, pounds and pounds of pigeon poop (see picture), a leaky roof (amazing what tin ceilings can hide) and some sagging and rotten beems. Under the "very cool" category, two items of which I posted pictures below. Enjoy the guess work!

pigeon%20poop.JPG

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Comments

I hope you realize that such a massive amount of pigeon droppings is a health hazard (cryptococcosis and psittacosis). Wear gloves and respirators while you clean this.

Posted by: guest at February 18, 2008 7:38 PM

I am guessing the item in picture #2 is part of a dumbwaiter

DeAnna

Posted by: guest at February 19, 2008 2:55 AM

Nice Dumbwaiter wheel!
I left mine in. Nice to have your roof exposed. Dont forget to FILL that space with insulation!

Posted by: tomgee at February 19, 2008 6:40 AM

I would have never guessed about the dumbwaiter but whats the first cool thing? I realize Im looking at an exposed ceiling but is there something in there Im missing?

Posted by: Mrs. Limestone at February 19, 2008 3:14 PM

What a coincidence: I just found my dumbwaiter wheel last night above a drop ceiling that had been installed in the closet, and took it out to display as an objet. Mine is very different from yours--it's a wooden pulley, with no flywheel.

Man, I would so love to see some photos of an intact, original dumbwaiter in one of these old places, but none of them seems to have survived.

Posted by: Rehab at February 19, 2008 3:18 PM

Pigeon Poop = acquiring money.

Good luck to you. Keep us updated. Would love to see the progress.

Posted by: guest at February 19, 2008 3:25 PM

I second what the first poster wrote. Pigeon poop is hazardous.

Also agree that it's got to be a dumbwaiter.

Bummer about the rotted beams.

Posted by: guest at February 19, 2008 4:05 PM

the photos titles give it up: Cannonball & dumbwaiter.

Is there a hidden dumbwaiter in your abode.

Good luck with the demo/rehab.

Posted by: guest at February 19, 2008 4:37 PM

Wow. That first picture sure brings back memories. That photo looks exactly like my house on Cambridge Place in Clinton Hill when we first took the plaster and lathe off the joists on the top floor and opened up the attic. Please tell me you are going to open up the attic and expose the ceiling of what looks like either a turret or a bay window. You can have great cathedral ceilings up there now that a variety of types of insulation are available.

Posted by: Shahn Andersen at February 19, 2008 5:30 PM

I don't get it. what's picture #3?

Can/will you put the dumbwaiter back in?

Posted by: guest at February 19, 2008 6:06 PM

Tomgee, totally agree, insulation is the way to go, in fact it is being installed as we speak!

Mrs Limestone, if you look closely at the picture you will see a heap of pigeon poop!

Picture 3, we are actually not certain what that iron ball is. Our contractor thought it might have been a counterweight related to the fireplace.

We wish the dumbwaiter was intact! When we bought the house, the previous owner had already done a partial renovation, building over the dumbwaiter. We are going to use the dumbwaiter as an "art" piece. Ideas are always welcome!

Posted by: hollander at February 19, 2008 10:33 PM