I am again mining from one of Jeff Kenney’s Throw Back Thursday articles. Dr. Greg Easterday is one of our founder’s grandsons and as such commissioned Easterday Construction Co., Inc. to complete an addition and renovation project at his dental clinic at 303 North Main Street in Culver. Unfortunately this isn’t one I can shed a lot of light on since it was well before the beginning of my tenure with Easterday Construction. At that time there were still several employee’s that had the Easterday name here including an uncle and cousin of Greg.
Image Source: Jeff Kenny – The Pilot News
I need to start watching for Jeff Kenney’s Throw Back Thursday entries. I never know when one of our past projects will show up.
Last week’s entry featured the expansion of the Corner Tavern back in 1995. Will Pearson owned the Corner Tavern then and since his wife Kathy worked here in the office, it was natural that he came to Easterday Construction Co., Inc. to do the work. This was also another collaboration with Don Scearce of Scearce & Associates, now SRKM Architecture. The expansion provided additional seating, better natural light and improved access to the basement. It also improved the kitchen and restrooms bringing them up to code. There were plans to expand into the upstairs, but there were various code issues that prevented that at the time.
The upgraded facility thrived under Will’s management for several years. Will often worked the kitchen and the bar continuing a tradition of Owner/Operator interaction with the patrons. Many local residents worked there over the years and Ginny Munroe, current Culver Town Council President, often comments, “Willie was my favorite boss!”
The restaurant later sold to George Pesek and went through another renovation to become the Corndance Cafe’, its current incarnation. It remains a fixture in Culver and continues to be a source of pride and income to Culver residents.
Expansion Image Source: Jeff Kenney – The Pilot News
Reading Jeff Kenney’s recent article in the Culver Citizen and The Pilot News about the new Lakehouse Grille in Culver brought to mind our involvement with the creation of its previous incarnation, The Edgewater Grille.
The Edgewater Grille was already operating successfully when the owner/chef approached us about his plans to expand. As Jeff likes to say, “for those of you that remember…” the Edgewater Grille was started in the old Bait Shop, a small white building with an orange roof sitting on the site of the former bowling alley. (At that time the adjacent Lakeview Tavern was under separate ownership.) The Edgewater Grille sign only partially covered the old sign on the roof that said “BAIT”. There were only a few tables because of the limited space, but the business was brisk.
The plan was to fill the entire site with a new restaurant, but keep the original restaurant open as long as possible in the interim. The owner had a vision of what he wanted in his head. With the help of Brent Martin, (B. A. Martin Architect, P.C.) we got that vision on paper and plans approved with the State. Part of this planning was to find a way to stage the project to keep the restaurant open. We accomplished this by phasing the project with the first phase including the restrooms, kitchen, mechanical rooms and some limited seating at the back of the site. As is etched in limestone on on the parapet, construction began in the Fall of 1999.
The structure was to be wood framed. This allowed for costs to be shifted and allow the bulk of expenditures on the kitchen and finishes. Exposed wood trusses were used to support a BMC CMR-24 roof. We showed various roof systems to the owner and explained the value of this system for the life of the building. It also allowed a low slope (1/4:12) roof pitch which maximized the interior space without requiring a height variance. BMC (Butler Manufacturing Company) has one of the best standing seam roof systems available in their MR-24 Roof. It uses a Pittsburgh double-lock standing seam with a full 360 degree seamed in place connection. The CMR-24 roof combines the MR-24 roof with rigid insulation board and liner panel to keep the interior clean. Look up the next time you’re there and you’ll notice a step in the roof. The step coincides with the transition between Phase I and Phase II of the project.
The owner wanted a facade that reflected the community. A brick was chosen that mirrored the brick used in the Vandalia Depot across the street. Even some of the details in the brickwork were duplicated in order to enhance that effect. As the facade was installed, the owner liked it enough to expand its use inside, creating a raised platform along the east wall. (It was removed during a subsequent remodel and replaced by a series of booths.) Mr. Martin proposed the tower on the corner to serve not only as an anchor to the structure, but as a metaphorical lighthouse tower since it sits at a bend in Lake Shore Drive.
With the completion of Phase I, the restaurant closed briefly to allow the relocation of some of the kitchen equipment. It quickly reopened in the new location and the old bait shop was torn down allowing the construction of Phase II to begin.
Around the time Phase II was started, the old Lakeview Tavern was purchased, renamed the Lakeview Lodge, and combined with the Edgewater Grille. This allowed for additional seating while Phase II was underway. Phase II went through several changes as construction proceeded. One of the interesting things was the creation of the fountains found on the corners of the raised dais along the west wall. These were commissioned through Susie Black of Black’s Glass in Plymouth. We then added pumps and tubing to create a pool and waterfall effect. The glass was back lit creating a glittering cascade and occasionally a rainbow effect. Unfortunately the water was hard to control and the occasional splatter made them difficult to use when the adjacent seating was occupied.
Variances were required along the way to accommodate the silver sign on the corner, the awnings and the entrance stairs and ramp. We also modified the sidewalk to create an accessible curb cut ramp. The restaurant was so popular that the Owner petitioned the Town to make changes and add a crosswalk to handle the pedestrian traffic from the parking areas across the street.
All in all we were quite proud of our involvement with this project. We felt the building fit the restaurant and the restaurant helped usher in an era of fine dining in Culver which we were pleased to be a part of.
Some of the manufactured housing companies from the 50’s and 60’s were ahead of the curve on green building. Many of them used panelization (prefabricated wall sections) for their wall construction. Interior, non-bearing walls were often constructed using 2×2’s in lieu of the standard 2×4’s. This resulted in space savings, but created non-standard door jambs and generally required 1-3/8″ door thicknesses. Electrical box installations are tight and these walls are not suitable for chases in most cases. The narrow walls and narrow door jambs were followed by smaller than average casings, base and other associated trim.
There are many of these homes in the residential areas of Culver. I have no confirmations, but it is our understanding that most of these homes were purchased through National Homes out of Lafayette, Indiana. We were contracted to move a wall in one of these homes on Academy Road last month. This reminds us of a previous project completed on Fleet Parkway.
This project was a home purchased from a past client where we had completed several projects. The home was purchased by an Interior Designer and her family. She wanted to update the Master Bathroom, Guest Bathroom and Kitchen.
Along with this she wanted to change the existing trim throughout the house. She chose an oversized MDF trim for the casing and base which gave the walls more mass. This was added to all of the main floor rooms as well as the downstairs family room. We were able to collaborate with her on several methods of changing the trim such as the detail to the right (and the cap detail here) at the entrance to the dining room from the living room. This disguised one of the main openings where the narrow walls were obvious. The change was dramatic as you can see in these before and after pictures.
We provided a custom window seat at the main window in the living room providing a focal point for the room. This made a dramatic change to that room. There was also a dated white wrought iron railing system at the stairs into the room which we changed to wood following the theme of increasing the scale of accent elements.
The existing doors were a hollow core wood with stained veneer finish. These were changed to two panel (stacked) composite doors which were painted white to match the trim. The composite doors are heavier which required some reinforcing of the jambs, but the added weight made the 1-3/8″ thickness less noticeable. New hardware further enhanced the substantial feeling. An example of this can be seen in the master bedroom closet doors in the picture to the right. (Notice the size of the existing baseboard which was retained in this room.)
In the original floor plan, the master bathroom was small and was adjacent to a combination bathroom/laundry room that served the other two bedrooms. As part of the remodel, we expanded the master bathroom, stealing space from the laundry room. This expanded the master bath sufficiently to allow a separate shower and soaking tub (left). A furniture piece sink was used in this room. Tile floors were added with tile shower surrounds and a tile surround for the tub. Beadboard wainscot was added as well.
An existing closet was used to create a new guest bathroom to serve the other two bedrooms. This bath also included tile floors and wall details as well as similar beadboard wainscot. A custom cabinet was created to allow the sink to be installed over the area where the head space for the stairs to the basement encroached on this room. A tub-shower was installed opposite the sink. Custom clear glass shower partitions and doors were included in both rooms.
We also provided a custom cabinetry fireplace surround in the family room. The old cabinetry was removed and replaced with custom sizes. The red brick fireplace was covered in drywall and wood refreshing its appearance. The stained shelves were removed and reconstructed with the larger trim, recessed shelf strips, and custom shelves to match the cabinetry below. (See pictures below.)
It was quite amazing what these changes did to transform the home. We are pleased and proud that we were allowed to be part of this project.
I need to start watching for Jeff Kenney’s Throw Back Thursday entries. I never know when one of our past projects will show up.
Last week’s entry featured the expansion of the Corner Tavern back in 1995. Will Pearson owned the Corner Tavern then and since his wife Kathy worked here in the office, it was natural that he came to Easterday Construction Co., Inc. to do the work. This was also another collaboration with Don Scearce of Scearce & Associates, now SRKM Architecture. The expansion provided additional seating, better natural light and improved access to the basement. It also improved the kitchen and restrooms bringing them up to code. There were plans to expand into the upstairs, but there were various code issues that prevented that at the time.
The upgraded facility thrived under Will’s management for several years. Will often worked the kitchen and the bar continuing a tradition of Owner/Operator interaction with the patrons. Many local residents worked there over the years and Ginny Munroe, current Culver Town Council President, often comments, “Willie was my favorite boss!”
The restaurant later sold to George Pesek and went through another renovation to become the Corndance Cafe’, its current incarnation. It remains a fixture in Culver and continues to be a source of pride and income to Culver residents.
Expansion Image Source: Jeff Kenney – The Pilot News
Reading Jeff Kenney’s recent article in the Culver Citizen and The Pilot News about the new Lakehouse Grille in Culver brought to mind our involvement with the creation of its previous incarnation, The Edgewater Grille.
The Edgewater Grille was already operating successfully when the owner/chef approached us about his plans to expand. As Jeff likes to say, “for those of you that remember…” the Edgewater Grille was started in the old Bait Shop, a small white building with an orange roof sitting on the site of the former bowling alley. (At that time the adjacent Lakeview Tavern was under separate ownership.) The Edgewater Grille sign only partially covered the old sign on the roof that said “BAIT”. There were only a few tables because of the limited space, but the business was brisk.
The plan was to fill the entire site with a new restaurant, but keep the original restaurant open as long as possible in the interim. The owner had a vision of what he wanted in his head. With the help of Brent Martin, (B. A. Martin Architect, P.C.) we got that vision on paper and plans approved with the State. Part of this planning was to find a way to stage the project to keep the restaurant open. We accomplished this by phasing the project with the first phase including the restrooms, kitchen, mechanical rooms and some limited seating at the back of the site. As is etched in limestone on on the parapet, construction began in the Fall of 1999.
The structure was to be wood framed. This allowed for costs to be shifted and allow the bulk of expenditures on the kitchen and finishes. Exposed wood trusses were used to support a BMC CMR-24 roof. We showed various roof systems to the owner and explained the value of this system for the life of the building. It also allowed a low slope (1/4:12) roof pitch which maximized the interior space without requiring a height variance. BMC (Butler Manufacturing Company) has one of the best standing seam roof systems available in their MR-24 Roof. It uses a Pittsburgh double-lock standing seam with a full 360 degree seamed in place connection. The CMR-24 roof combines the MR-24 roof with rigid insulation board and liner panel to keep the interior clean. Look up the next time you’re there and you’ll notice a step in the roof. The step coincides with the transition between Phase I and Phase II of the project.
The owner wanted a facade that reflected the community. A brick was chosen that mirrored the brick used in the Vandalia Depot across the street. Even some of the details in the brickwork were duplicated in order to enhance that effect. As the facade was installed, the owner liked it enough to expand its use inside, creating a raised platform along the east wall. (It was removed during a subsequent remodel and replaced by a series of booths.) Mr. Martin proposed the tower on the corner to serve not only as an anchor to the structure, but as a metaphorical lighthouse tower since it sits at a bend in Lake Shore Drive.
With the completion of Phase I, the restaurant closed briefly to allow the relocation of some of the kitchen equipment. It quickly reopened in the new location and the old bait shop was torn down allowing the construction of Phase II to begin.
Around the time Phase II was started, the old Lakeview Tavern was purchased, renamed the Lakeview Lodge, and combined with the Edgewater Grille. This allowed for additional seating while Phase II was underway. Phase II went through several changes as construction proceeded. One of the interesting things was the creation of the fountains found on the corners of the raised dais along the west wall. These were commissioned through Susie Black of Black’s Glass in Plymouth. We then added pumps and tubing to create a pool and waterfall effect. The glass was back lit creating a glittering cascade and occasionally a rainbow effect. Unfortunately the water was hard to control and the occasional splatter made them difficult to use when the adjacent seating was occupied.
Variances were required along the way to accommodate the silver sign on the corner, the awnings and the entrance stairs and ramp. We also modified the sidewalk to create an accessible curb cut ramp. The restaurant was so popular that the Owner petitioned the Town to make changes and add a crosswalk to handle the pedestrian traffic from the parking areas across the street.
All in all we were quite proud of our involvement with this project. We felt the building fit the restaurant and the restaurant helped usher in an era of fine dining in Culver which we were pleased to be a part of.
Some of the manufactured housing companies from the 50’s and 60’s were ahead of the curve on green building. Many of them used panelization (prefabricated wall sections) for their wall construction. Interior, non-bearing walls were often constructed using 2×2’s in lieu of the standard 2×4’s. This resulted in space savings, but created non-standard door jambs and generally required 1-3/8″ door thicknesses. Electrical box installations are tight and these walls are not suitable for chases in most cases. The narrow walls and narrow door jambs were followed by smaller than average casings, base and other associated trim.
There are many of these homes in the residential areas of Culver. I have no confirmations, but it is our understanding that most of these homes were purchased through National Homes out of Lafayette, Indiana. We were contracted to move a wall in one of these homes on Academy Road last month. This reminds us of a previous project completed on Fleet Parkway.
This project was a home purchased from a past client where we had completed several projects. The home was purchased by an Interior Designer and her family. She wanted to update the Master Bathroom, Guest Bathroom and Kitchen.
Along with this she wanted to change the existing trim throughout the house. She chose an oversized MDF trim for the casing and base which gave the walls more mass. This was added to all of the main floor rooms as well as the downstairs family room. We were able to collaborate with her on several methods of changing the trim such as the detail to the right (and the cap detail here) at the entrance to the dining room from the living room. This disguised one of the main openings where the narrow walls were obvious. The change was dramatic as you can see in these before and after pictures.
We provided a custom window seat at the main window in the living room providing a focal point for the room. This made a dramatic change to that room. There was also a dated white wrought iron railing system at the stairs into the room which we changed to wood following the theme of increasing the scale of accent elements.
The existing doors were a hollow core wood with stained veneer finish. These were changed to two panel (stacked) composite doors which were painted white to match the trim. The composite doors are heavier which required some reinforcing of the jambs, but the added weight made the 1-3/8″ thickness less noticeable. New hardware further enhanced the substantial feeling. An example of this can be seen in the master bedroom closet doors in the picture to the right. (Notice the size of the existing baseboard which was retained in this room.)
In the original floor plan, the master bathroom was small and was adjacent to a combination bathroom/laundry room that served the other two bedrooms. As part of the remodel, we expanded the master bathroom, stealing space from the laundry room. This expanded the master bath sufficiently to allow a separate shower and soaking tub (left). A furniture piece sink was used in this room. Tile floors were added with tile shower surrounds and a tile surround for the tub. Beadboard wainscot was added as well.
An existing closet was used to create a new guest bathroom to serve the other two bedrooms. This bath also included tile floors and wall details as well as similar beadboard wainscot. A custom cabinet was created to allow the sink to be installed over the area where the head space for the stairs to the basement encroached on this room. A tub-shower was installed opposite the sink. Custom clear glass shower partitions and doors were included in both rooms.
We also provided a custom cabinetry fireplace surround in the family room. The old cabinetry was removed and replaced with custom sizes. The red brick fireplace was covered in drywall and wood refreshing its appearance. The stained shelves were removed and reconstructed with the larger trim, recessed shelf strips, and custom shelves to match the cabinetry below. (See pictures below.)
It was quite amazing what these changes did to transform the home. We are pleased and proud that we were allowed to be part of this project.
The above picture in a recent Culver Citizen caused a “blast from the past”, reminding me of our work on Heritage Park when it was first constructed back in 1997. We were commissioned to build the trellis panels and the arbor. The design was created by Mark Holeman (Mark M. Holman, Inc.) and was all custom sized and dimensioned. Mr. Holeman even custom sized the lattice which was constructed in a square pattern in lieu of the standard diagonal pattern. This was our first project with Mr. Holeman, but we have since worked with him on several projects around Culver and in other locations.
Richard Fisher of The Antiquarian and Historical Society of Culver coordinated various contractors to complete the park, so we were only involved with the carpentry. At that time our best carpenter for this kind of work was Ansel “Uncle Bud” Cripe. He was semi-retired and only working on custom woodworking projects such as cabinetry, railings and such. He was in his late seventies, turning 78 in September of ’97. He mumbled and groaned about the project, shaking his head, uttering an occasional signature “lawzy!” as he went through making patterns, gluing multiple layers to create the curved tops on the trellis panels and working through the intricacies of mounting the circle within the custom lattice for the arbor.
Per Mr. Holeman’s specifications, all of the wood used was redwood. Also per specifications it was all #1 clear redwood. This made the material costs high. There was no margin for error! Fasteners were non-staining, exterior grade. The glue and fillers also had to be exterior grade. Everything was built in sections at our shop. One of our crews assembled the pieces on site under Uncle Bud’s direction. Throughout the entire project, Richard Fisher was never far from the process. He came to our shop to review the progress and was also on site when the assembly was completed.
As with most carpenters, Uncle Bud loved working with high quality wood and he treated this project with reverence and respect. He spoke of it with pride in subsequent years, though he could never understand why they took that beautiful clear redwood and painted it green! Sacrilege! Particularly after he had carefully fit joints and hidden fasteners since the original plan was to only apply a clear sealer.
If you would want to support Heritage Park through the purchase of a commemorative brick, the Antiquarian and Historical Society of Culver has them for sale here. Bricks are available in single and double sizes. You can find a map of brick locations and a copy of Mark Holeman’s original site plan here.
Unfortunately both Uncle Bud and Richard have passed away. They are each unique characters from our past that are missed.