projects
Mixed Materials Fence
I noticed this fence in Wabash, Indiana and after driving by it for a year or more, I thought it was interesting enough to stop and snap a few pictures. Since seeing it in Wabash, I noticed a similar mix of materials inside Texas Roadhouse in South Bend. There they used it as a booth back at the end of a row of booths. The mix of wood and industrial metal is an interesting contrast that I’m starting to see more and more.
The fence in Wabash is a screening fence for a back yard. No one was home, so I didn’t get permission to look inside, but it would seem to be a great application for a pool. It has the slight limitation of needing to be level, but if that fits your application, I think it’s a creative use that should prove to be durable.
I liked it well enough that I’ve incorporated it into the Sand Hill Farm project. I plan to use this as the dumpster screening wall. It should be durable enough to serve that application well. Dumpster pads are generally level by design, so that limitation won’t apply here.
Dumpsters are a necessary evil, so I thought I might as well make the screening as sexy as possible. It will still have a chain link fence gate, but I’m kind of excited to see how the rest of the surround comes out. As the saying goes, Imitation is the Sincerest Form of Flattery, so I’ll be going for Sincere Flattery in lieu of pursuing Original Design in this case. Swing by and check it out when it’s complete.
Blast from the Past: Dr. James Ford Museum
I was cleaning house at the office the other day and ran across this invitation. Richard Ford was always kind enough to include us in events such as this. He made it a point to contact me and explain that the invitation applied to everyone at Easterday Construction that worked on the project, inviting them to come for the celebration and bring their wives to share what they had helped achieve. Our work mainly revolved around the structure and infrastructure, so most of the field crew had not see what the completed project looked like. This was their chance to see the home with the finishes in place, the museum displays up and running and to accept the kudos Richard was always sure to give. It is always nice to have your skills and accomplishments acknowledged and Richard did this deftly.
The museum is now under the Honeywell Foundation’s property umbrella. The duplex next door has been torn down to provide a parking lot for the Library across the street. This opens the home up to be seen from State Road 15. The home is starting to show a little bit of age, but in reality that just makes it look more lived in and more settled. Richard would still be proud of what he accomplished there.
If you haven’t visited this museum, it is worth your time. Make it a day and visit the Twenty restaurant at the Charley Creek Inn. If it’s a summer day, you can have lunch in the Courtyard. The Charley Creek Gardens are also open to the public. These are all projects Richard completed that continue to benefit the City of Wabash.
You can find out more about the Dr. James Ford Historic Home at their website here. You can find out more about Easterday Construction Co., Inc.’s part in it’s restoration here and here. There is a little more about the relationship Easterday Construction enjoyed with Richard Ford here.
Shady Rest Home
Easterday Construction belongs to Indiana Landmarks. Their recent email newsletter includes some pictures of the Shady Rest Home on the east side of Plymouth. For anyone one interested, the County is looking at options to repurpose this facility since Bowen Center‘s decision to cease operations there. The following is an excerpt from the Indiana Landmarks site regarding the home.
“In the days before welfare and social programs, and before the establishment of hospitals, nursing homes, and assisted-living facilities, people in need often had nowhere to turn. In 1848, Indiana passed new legislation requiring every Indiana county to “provide a public place wherein the unfortunate poor might have care.” Eventually, all 92 Indiana counties established “poor farms,” where able-bodied residents worked to offset the cost of residential care.
Local fanfare accompanied the Marshall County home opening in 1893. As the architecture makes evident, the county intended to create a quality home for their neediest citizens. Wing and Mahurin — a firm renowned for its Romanesque Revival public buildings — designed a grand Superintendent’s Quarters, with living and work space for the director and residents. Originally called the Marshall County Infirmary, the place earned its “Shady Rest” nickname from the many shade and fruit trees planted on the property.
Shady Rest Home today
Unfortunately, demolition has claimed a majority of Indiana’s historic county homes. In continual service for more than a century, Shady Rest is an anomaly. The county sold the facility in 1998, but it continued to serve as the Otis R. Bowen Center Shady Rest Home, a private residential center for adults who suffer from mental illness.
The Bowen Center closed Shady Rest this summer, and Marshall County commissioners are looking for ways to put the campus back in use. The five-acre property includes the main building, a large c. 1893 barn, a 1920s well house, and a garage.
The main building is listed in the National Register of Historic Places, which could make it eligible for Federal Rehabilitation Tax credits. Check out the National Register nomination for more interesting history about the Marshall County home. For more on efforts to find a reuse for the property, contact Marshall County commissioner Kurt Garner, 574-936-0613 or kurt.garner@gmail.com.”
Easterday Construction completed some renovation work on the facility back in the early 80’s. I was a plumber’s helper on part of that work, so I got to see some of the facility at that time. Unfortunately there wasn’t much effort to document projects at that time, so I don’t have any real details on what was done. I remember demolishing some nasty showers though!
It would be sad to lose this piece of history, though repurposing the facility may be challenging. Generally a buildings highest and best use is its original use and once that use has run its course, change is difficult. I’m sure with a little creativity, the County’s Committee on repurposing the building, currently being lead by Commissioner Kurt Garner, will find a suitable third life for this historic building.
Blast From the Past: Marge Baker
Very cool that Marge still has friends like this looking out for her. She still calls us on occasion to help with minor household needs.
Marge is a former Easterday Construction Co., Inc. employee, working for us into her 70’s. She was always a cheerful influence around the office and a huge “Company Woman”. She would always promote Easterdays and was thrilled with the logo-wear we would give out at times during the year. The last time I saw her she had to show me the hat she still had. I would have given her another, but she was still keeping that one in immaculate condition.
It’s hard to believe that she’s still going strong at 87. We all wish her many more good years. It’s a loss to the town that we don’t see her peddling her old blue bike with the big basket on the front around anymore. She was one of Culver’s iconic fixtures.
Article scanned from the Pilot News – 8-28-17
Sand Hill Farm Apartment Rendering
Apartment Rendering from SRKM Architecture
Here’s a cool “aerial” rendering of what the base two bedroom apartment layout will look like at Sand Hill Farm. This same layout will be repeated throughout the units. The one bedroom units will be sans the back bedroom and bathroom. The three bedroom units will have stairs from the living room to the third floor bedroom. We’re considering faux wood laminate floors and a gray & white color scheme. Leave your thoughts in the comments if you want to provide input.
Thanks SRKM for the visual!
