ROGER SHERMAN COBBLE SHOP RESTORATION

FALL 2006 UPDATE

NEARING THE END of its restoration cycle, the Roger Sherman Cobbler Shop is almost ready to move out of the barn of Northrop House and onto the foundation in the backfield where it will once more enjoy life as a real building.
Thanks to the dedication and professional attention of JAN DESIATO and ROBIN SZENDY and with the recent help of PATRICK MASTROILO, PAUL VOORHEES and DAVID MUIRHEAD, almost all the beams have been repaired.

The site has been cleared of some unwanted cedar trees, and nothing stands in the way of the moment when the shop is to be raised.

Helping hands will be needed and we will put out the call when the time comes – hopefully before the end of the year.
In the days of Roger Sherman, a frame rising used to be a communal affair, a cause for true celebration and joy.

The Cobbler Shop Needs Donations, and Volunteers

Short history of the Cobbler Shop

The Building

The Cobble Shop will become part of the Historical Society and be a piece of the museum.   The building will be located off the stone wall that separates the Schneckenberger property from the Society property. The distance off the wall will be determined by zoning setback regulations, and the condition of the rock pile or ledge near the spot.Access to the building will be across a foot path through the Society property ( see map ) and terminating at the building with a dirt ramp. The building dimensions will be approximately 15’ x 30’. It was determined that a concrete foundation would be needed, with either stone veneer or stacked stone above grade. A wood floor will be needed, material to be determined. Two windows will be installed in the gable ends. Power to the building will be a later addition, but maybe planned for now, with the installation of underground conduit. A Roger Sherman exhibit is to be installed at one end. A chimney for a wood burning stove that the Historical society  has in possession would be built at the other end. Children’s workshops will happen in the building. The upstairs loft will be used for extra furniture and farm implements.

THE COBBLER SHOP was moved  by Joel Judd, Paul Voorhees and crew from the River Oaks Golf Club to the Historical Society property.



The foundation is in, the old pieces from the building are stored at the Historical Society, but there are many “needs” if we want to make some progress in 2004. The goal is to have a barn frame raising in the fall of 2004, but there is much to be done before that can happen.  We paid for the foundation, and the excavation work was donated by Joel Judd. Hopefully, the rest of the labor can be donated.  With some kindness, some or all of the materials could also be donated.


 
Some mighty big Chestnut beams and cross members are covered and stored on site in our back field. Plans will be drawn, permits requested and from there we will try to schedule a "barn raising" . 



There are a lot of beams and other parts of the building stacked at the Historical Society. It seems that there is a good portion of the building frame, including the rafters. It is not known how much damage occurred during demolition. Robin reported that reciprocating saws were used during demolition. Robin also reported that there may be some clapboard pieces amongst the piles.    



Cobbler Shop Update - Spring 2006

JAN DESAITO, ROBIN SZENDY and PATRICK MASTROLILLO have been incredibly busy throughout the winter restoring the timeworn timbers for the Roger Sherman Cobbler Shop. During a recent visit to their workshop in the stone cellar of the Northrop House the fruit of their labor was in plain view: Some dozen posts have been carefully and expertly patched up, sanded down and are ready to be put back to their original use, namely to provide the sturdy and supportive frame for the cobbler shop.

Practically every Sunday morning the three volunteers have gotten together under the guidance of Jan Desaito who took over as project leader from Mason Lord.

Thus far they have restored a dozen timbers and are working on the last couple of posts. “We have not used as much wood hardener as we thought we would,” said Jan, “which means that the timbers actually have been better off than we expected them to be.”
Back around 1750 when the cobbler shop was built, people would use chestnut trees, which were plentiful in this area, to cut the posts and beams for their buildings. According to Jan, very few chestnut trees are left in New England today because they all fell victim to the blight which was brought to this region when chestnut trees from China were planted in Central Park.

As Robin pointed out, the team has also been clearing the site where the shop will be put up, and has cut down two trees blocking views. The assembly of the cobbler shop, which measures 30 feet by 15 feet, is planned for early fall 2006. Volunteers will be needed to hold the parts in place and raise the frame.

Tools of the Trade