Dan recently purchased the disassembled frame of another historic building. The Dillwyn House, as it was once known, is a timber-frame home that dates back to the late 18th century. It measured fifteen feet by thirty, and once stood a story and a half high. It had four fireplaces—two on each story—a staircase, and three doors featuring distinctive Battenberg markings.
The only problem is that the building didn’t come with any instructions for reassembly!
But for Dan, who loves restoring old homes, there are no such things as problems—only challenges. He enjoys a good puzzle, and already he’s been reaching out to friends in the business and other experts who might be able to help him piece this one back together.
The building was rescued from Buckingham County, which sits at the geographic center of Virginia. According to records, two Civil War soldiers—including a major—had been buried on the property (Chris says he has a new mystery to investigate!). The home’s last tenant was a woman who had a large purple hydrangea beside the house; reportedly, her only piece of furniture was her piano.
Currently, the hand-planed timbers of the floor and one of the walls are already up. Dan has the rest of the structure stacked nearby, ready to go. Every time he has a free hour or two, he’s puzzling over the pieces, savoring the challenge.
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