A dream and vision taking shape: The rehabilitation of the Paxton-Evans House
Ledger Independent Article dated October 17, 2008
OLD WASHINGTON — Another treasure is being restored in the historic village of Washington, as rehabilitation and restoration work takes place on the Paxton-Evans House. The brick structure has been vacant for several years, having once been the home of antique shops, the visitor’s center and as a private residence.
Now, efforts are underway by members of the Elizabeth Wallingford Old Washington Preservation organization to bring renewed life to the structure and bring attention to its place in this early American frontier community.
Elizabeth Wallingford was a retired Maysville High School teacher, who had a deep interest in Washington and wanted to preserve the historic village. According to her friend and fellow DAR member, Luellen Pyles of May’s Lick, Elizabeth would park at various spots in Old Washington such as Paxton Inn, the Presbyterian Church, and others, just to sit and observe the town.
Luellen said Elizabeth often said of the village “Wouldn’t it be nice to have a Williamsburg (Virginia) in Kentucky?”
Elizabeth also had a vision of what Paxton House and Paxton Inn could be one day, which was to have both buildings open to the public so visitors could see that the two are connected by doorways on the first and second floors.
Luellen said Elizabeth’s comments at one Limestone DAR meeting, which are held at Paxton Inn were, “That door should be opened so people should realize that these two buildings were one and they should be able to go from one building to the other.”
When Elizabeth died in April 2004, she left her estate in a trust to acquire, preserve and improve the historic structures in the Washington Historic District that are eligible for tax treatments for nonprofit organizations, Luellen said.
“She wanted Washington preserved at any cost,” Luellen said.
Now, that dream and vision is taking shape with the rehabilitation of Paxton House, which is connected on its south side to the Paxton Inn and on its north side to a private residence. All three structures are brick and have anchored the community since its earliest days.
When Paxton Inn was constructed, the windows on the southern wall of Paxton House were converted to doorways between the two structures, allowing family members to move between their private home and business. In later years, the doors have been nailed shut for privacy reasons.
Until recently, it was believed Washington resident and attorney James Paxton built the home and Paxton Inn next door, but research has shed new light on the original owner and builder of Paxton House
.
According to Glen Payne, owner and principal partner of Preservation Services and Technology Group, LLC of Nicholasville, the man who built the home was David Davis. Glen said the house was built between 1800 to 1805 as a stand-alone home, with construction of Paxton Inn taking place around 1812 to 1815 and the private residence was built around 1824.
Earlier research is correct that James Paxton built Paxton Inn and the private residence, but it was David Davis who is now credited with constructing Paxton House.
Glen described Davis as “a person of means” and said records show he arrived in Washington in the late 1780s and had various business enterprises and land purchases.
Preservation Services and Technology Group has been contracted by the Elizabeth Wallingford organization to rehabilitate Paxton House and work is expected to be completed by Spring 2009. The project began in October 2007 with a conditions assessment of the property and by Spring 2008, the white paint which has covered the red brick facade for years was removed, a new metal standing-seam roof installed and an ongoing drainage problem at the rear of the property was corrected.
Almost simultaneously, work on the interior of the home began with the installation of new heating and air conditioning systems, new plumbing, the removal of layers of wallpapers, and uncovering four original fireplaces.
The yellow heart pine foor in the dining room had to be replaced because of water damage brought about by the drainage problem at the rear of the home. But luckily, the yellow heart pine will return to the room through the purchase of re-milled, 150-year-old yellow heart pine.
To educate visitors about early construction techniques, a section of the living room floor has been removed and will be replaced with a sheet of glass to reveal the original 2 1/2 inch by 11 inch oak timber #oor joists, hewn with adze and axes. The timbers are joined in what Glen referred to as a mortise – tenon method and secured with ash wooden pegs.
“There’s a lot of original woodwork here,” Glen said of the home’s architectural details in chair railings, “replace mantels, baseboards, door moldings and staircase, which is of walnut wood.“
Everything original will be salvage and reused,” he said.
Once completed, Paxton House will again become an integral part of the Washington community when it opens its doors next spring as the new home of the Washington Visitor’s Center.
“Putting these two buildings together is a dream of many of us,” Luellen said Tuesday as she walked around Paxton House and took in the transformation taking place.
“No one was more devoted to Washington,” she said of her friend Elizabeth Wallingford, whose generosity and love of the village has brought the dream to reality.
Contact Marla Toncray at marla.toncray@lee.net or 606-564-9091, ext. 275
After Restoration
