Earthquakes, Cranes, and Parapet: How a Local Architect Led the Team that Saved John Norris's Gothic Revival Roof of Her Family Home!

For the Parlor Presentation on Thursday, September 26, retired architect Anna Habersham Wright Smith will describe the extensive preservation work performed between 2007 through 2012 on the Green-Meldrim House. At the initial assessment multiple critical components were found to be failing simultaneously including the roof material and flashings. The parapet stones were unstable, eroding, and shedding chunks. The grand Gothic portico also suffered leaks, corrosion, and the shedding of parts onto the public below. Due to the unique complexity of the architect/master builder John Norris's 1853 design, there were no easy solutions. The situation was saved by the combination of a dramatic fund-raising drive within the St. John's Church congregation and the awarding of a $400,000 Save America's Treasures grant. As the great granddaughter of Peter and Frances Meldrim, the last private owners of the house, Anna was uniquely motivated to push this ambitious project through to completion.