Huge Architectural Salvage Haul at Circa Antiques
We have spent much of the past year scouring the local sources of architectural salvage and we’ve never seen a one-off haul like this. Circa Antiques on Atlantic Avenue has taken possesion of the entire inside of a historically perfect brownstone! They’ve got everything from staircases to paneling to fireplaces to bathroom fixtures. Truly mind-boggling…
We have spent much of the past year scouring the local sources of architectural salvage and we’ve never seen a one-off haul like this. Circa Antiques on Atlantic Avenue has taken possesion of the entire inside of a historically perfect brownstone! They’ve got everything from staircases to paneling to fireplaces to bathroom fixtures. Truly mind-boggling and certainly raises our curiosity about why a house like this is being gutted. A new modernist-leaning owner? A developer putting in slick new condos? Wish we knew.
Architectural Salvage [Circa Antiques]
I still can’t believe how much nice old stuff is thrown into dumpsters and left curbside with renovations. It’s mind numbing. It’s a shame that code and/or money problems won’t let the nonprofit keep the brownstone intact for the girls, but at least they didn’t get guys in there to rip all the original detailing out to throw into a dumpster.
I work on Wall St and spend very little of my day helping young girls in need, so my hat is off to them. Good for you!
Actually, I’ve lived in old houses my whole life – but that is beside the point. I agree with Roz that it is good that they are salvaging these details.
However, I think it should be said that I do not think any of the posters on this sight are opposed to the good work that the church is doing for the girls. It’s just a shame that the guts of the house have to be removed. These houses were not middle class places when they were built actually – more than often they were built for relatively affluent families – hence the expensive materials. Unfortunately, there are not many places left that are this intact believe it or not. Over the years they have lost their details or been covered up with suspended ceiling, linoleum or several layers of paint by people trying to maintain old houses on a budget and/or not understanding the value of what they had.
I confess I have a selfish interest in a few pieces from this salvage to complete some restoration in my house. Nevertheless, I think Circa is making the right move from their own perspective by trying to sell the lot. I think it could take some time to find that buyer though. But it could be gone in a few days. I wish them luck, but I wish I had:
– spindles for my stairways (both types)
– newel posts and finials to replace damaged and missing ones
– rattail design brass escutcheons and bin pulls
– Eastlake design bin pulls
– a few linear feet of quartersawn oak raised panel wainscoting
– two chestnut doors
All are identical and original replacements for what’s missing in my house.
I think it is obvious to anyone visiting the site in search of the random photos of intact details there are going to be strong reactions. it’s the nature of the details beast however shallow to some. some people care about this stuff… and it ain’t middle income housing anymore… i just hope that the non-profit got a large percentage of the profit that will be made from these pieces- on the up side many people needing these details can finally find them but on the downside I wonder at what outrageous price and at what profit to the dealer- i don’t know the dealer, as some of you do, but i wonder how the deal was negotiated.
any guess how much will be made on all the loot and how much the non-profit got?
Circa is crazy for just wanting to sell the whole lot to one person. They could make much more money by selling it off in some pieces.
Roz again, OK sorry for the dyspeptic post. I over-reacted to a few negative comments not acknowledging that plenty of people above are taking a more thoughtful approach.
Roz here, and — like Hal — I’ve spoken to the owner of Circa. Personally I think it’s a great shame the details had to be removed but it’s a bit of waste of time bemoaning that now. Coz the deed is done. And, frankly, there are still many renovations going on that involve original materials being stripped out and THROWN out. I do know that the folks at Circa made a huge effort to remove everything intact and to carefully bundle and label stuff. That’s not easy. It’s much simpler to just wade in with a crowbar and have a demolition derby. I’ve no idea about the specifics of the federal codes and requirements that required the interior details to be removed. But that’s what happened so let’s be happy it was done by people who know something about architectural salvage. You don’t have to “beg” to be shown the stuff. Just go look at Circa’s website and take it from there if you have a serious interest. There’s so much knee-jerk negativity on this site, it’s getting to be a real downer. I’m just a brownstone geek looking for 15 minutes diversion during my work day. Perhaps I should spend the time someplace else?
Since when does Victorian woodwork have a monopoly on warmth and welcome.
While I realize that most of you grew up in suburban raised ranches (or France) and can’t ever seem to get enough filligree and scroll-work, for those of who grew up in and around these structures, they are not nearly so sublime and rare. Between New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington DC, Brazil, Argentina and Europe there has to be a million relatively well-preserved Victorian row houses. If one of them, despite being a relatively good example, is salvaged instead of saved, I don’t think the architectural record is in jeopardy. These are not Faberge eggs, they are middle-class dwellings. Relax.