If you drive by the Town Hall or on your way to Hildreth House, drive by the Powder House. It is now standing and intact and it looks great. We’re not quite finished but we’re almost there. As you take a look at our gallery of photos below, you will notice that the wood trim still needs to be done, the door is not up, but we’re almost there.
Ken Swanton, the Project Lead for the Historical Commission reported that Robert Adam, the Preservationist assigned to the project said that the door is rotted at the bottom and he recommends that it be reconstructed. We will review that request at the next meeting of the Commission.
As you browse through the photo gallery below, note the excellent work that was done to rebuild the foundation. Also, the wood around the door was replaced with new oak as was the door sill. And, note the brick work; there are two layers of brick with each layer bonded together using two different techniques as was done in the original building. Notice that the brick pattern on the side for the door is different than the pattern for the other three sides. For the door side, a technique called ‘Flemish Bond’ was used where each row of bricks tie the two layers. A different technique called the “American Bond” is used for the other three walls where the two layers are tied together every seven rows. Count ’em!
(Click on photo to enlarge.)
FORUM for Historic Harvard 
Does the powder house have a current use?
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It is wonderful in a time when we have become a throw-away society, that a town and its people come together to SAVE, rather than demolish, their historical structures. Also notable is that you took the time to make sure it was done right, and that the methods were carefully researched. That the building was “restored” and not “renovated.” Kudos to the Town of Harvard. I only wish I could live in your town. 🙂 Keep these wonderful articles coming. Thanks for all you do to save history, not just for Harvard, but for all of us.
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