A Draft Plan to
Restore the Barcroft Community House
as of July 4, 1995
With an update below.
Goals and Statement of Mission
The Barcroft Community House is a small building erected in 1908
by the Methodist congregation which has served as a focal point
of neighborhood activity since that time. It may be the only original
one room wooden "School House" in Arlington. It was
turned over to the Barcroft School and Civic League in 1914, and
continues to serve as the neighborhood meeting house.
The Community House is of great historical interest and extreme
value to Barcroft citizens. It represents the pride and dedication
of our ancestors, and is irreplaceable. Its construction and style
reveal much about the community established here in the early
part of this century. The neighborhood should make every effort
to maintain this building in impeccable condition, and keep the
grounds beautiful so that citizens passing by will be certain
of the neighborhood's sense of pride. The house should serve as
a meeting place to address local concerns and resolve situations
that can only be done with community effort. It should also be
used as a place for interesting activities which will promote
the community spirit that has been evident since the construction
of the Barcroft Community House.
- Deterioration and Community Standards
In recent years the BSCL has not kept pace with the building's
needs. Exterior painting has been kept up, but other parts of
the structure are showing their age. In addition, community standards
have moved beyond the conditions of the basement bathrooms, just
as they moved beyond the outhouse which was replaced by those
indoor bathrooms in 1935. The building has no hot water, a cluttered
and inconvenient kitchen, poorly ducted heating, an old and oversized
furnace, inadequate lighting and inadequate electrical wiring.
Finally, the main meeting room has become shabby over the years
as both the ceiling drywall and the beaverboard drywall on the
walls has warped and cracked. The floor is covered with 1950's
vinyl tile, detracting from the historic appearance. Even the
signature mullioned windows in the main hall need glazing and
other repairs.
The Barcroft Community House is in great need of thorough and
careful renovation to fit it well for functions such as neighborhood
dinners, concerts, art shows, wedding receptions, and fund raising
events. These are the types of events for which it was used in
the earlier years, and they helped to make it the center of community
life. For such events the kitchen must be fully functional and
equipped with appropriate appliances, counter space, cooking utensils,
and plenty of storage area. The bathroom must be relocated in
a place that is accessible for the handicapped. Handicapped accessibility
must be provided for the entrance to the building and main meeting
room as well. The meeting room should have an attractive look
with the original finished wood floors, and perhaps the original
plaster or new drywall covering the walls. The ceiling needs to
be replaced, and might be returned to its original cathedral configuration.
The stage should be restored and adequate lighting installed for
performances. The draw curtain that is presently in place should
be replaced. A lighted display cabinet holding items of historical
interest could be added to the main area. More storage is needed.
The heating system must be replaced, in part to take advantage
of the smaller, more efficient furnaces now available, and in
part to make space available in the kitchen area which might be
able to hold the bathroom. An air conditioner will eliminate the
unsightly window units which continue to damage the exterior paint.
An office space for the building manager would be desirable if
it can be accommodated in the plans. The building should also
have an effective security and fire alarm system. The foundation
is in need of repointing, and additional soil to create a drainage
slope away from the wall.
Renovation of the Community House grounds began several years
ago through the efforts of neighborhood landscape designer Scott
Brinitzer. His plan for the landscaping of the grounds is already
being executed, with the planting of a number of trees, shrubs
and flower beds, some donated by the Woman's Club of Arlington.
This plan includes the addition of considerable new plant material
around the grounds, forming a screen from neighboring properties
and a natural frame for the Community House. An attractive sign
displaying the name of the house and date established should be
placed in front of the building.
Because of the historical significance of the Community House
great care must be exercised during the entire renovation project
to maintain historical perspective as well as a functional approach.
Some external repairs will require approval by the Historic Affairs
and Landmark Review Board, and internal renovation will only be
undertaken after seeking advice from HALRB and other resources.
From a historical perspective, this plan is intended to fit out
the Community House to continue its role in the next century.
Our goal is to complete the restoration by the middle of 1996.
We do not intend to incur any debt, but do expect to drawn down
our building fund substantially, if not completely.
The following sections outline steps to restore the Community
House.
Stage One: Short Term Repairs
- Repair and stabilize foundation, including regrading the
soil around the outside.
The foundation needed pointing of the mortar and stabilization of
one large stone which was loose at the NE corner of the building,
We also need to add soil around the foundation to create
a slope for water drainage. [Action: Scott Brinitzer has organized
a grounds Work Day and is procuring a load of dirt for us.]
- Evaluate paint failure and repair problems.
Our three-year-old paint job is beginning to blister and crack.
It must be attended to before it deteriorates further. For the
present we are using spot repairs to avoid repainting
in 1996.(After posting this page we received some very good information
on paint system failure in older buildings from John Leeke, a consultant
whose email address is JohnLeeke@aol.com. He knows the subject very well
and has given us new ideas.)
Shingles are blowing down off the roof. There are two roof layers,
so a new one would require stripping the old roof off first. We
need to replace the roof, either in 1996 or 1997.
Stage Two: Kitchen, Bathrooms, Utilities, Meeting Room
- Prepare a detailed architectural plan.
We will need architectural plans for all renovations to the building,
and a detailed plan of the steps to be taken in the construction
phase. [Action: Jim Kerr and the Committee have consulted architects
and have hired one for hourly consultations on plans and code
requirements. Jim is working up preliminary plans for the kitchen
and bathroom, to be reviewed by the architect.]
We will need cost estimates for the renovations, and a clear idea
of our funding sources.
With the plans in place, we can expect enthusiasm from the community
and some donations should follow. We can also pursue grants from
the County or other sources. We do not consider borrowing appropriate
for an organization with potential instability in its income sources.
Rear Section of the Building
This section is the utility area of the building, containing the
kitchen, bathrooms, storage areas and heating equipment. Although
we are concerned about historic preservation issues, this is the
section of the building which has been renovated in the past to
improve functionality, and we expect to retain that focus for
this area.
- Move the furnace from the kitchen to the basement and add
central air conditioning.
The present location of the furnace wastes prime space needed
for activities. The unit is also much larger than necessary. A
smaller, more efficient furnace will fit in the basement in the
space now used for one of the bathrooms, or could be placed in
another location within the building. Ductwork is currently located
in the ceilings and heats the room from the top down, which is
slow and inefficient for a room which is normally kept chilly
until just before a meeting. The ductwork may be relocated in
the basement crawl space to exit to the rooms through floor-level
outlets, or may remain essentially as it is now routed. The central
air conditioner will use an outside unit which will require approval
by the HALRB. The interior chimney installed for the current furnace
can be removed from the kitchen to permit a more efficient stage
entrance.
- Install a hot water heater.
Community activities often involve food preparation, which requires
a source of hot water. In addition, hot water is needed for the
bathroom. The heater will fit in the basement, attic or kitchen,
and may be an on-demand unit which does not require maintaining
a tank at constant heat when the building is not in use.
- Construct a new handicapped-accessible bathroom upstairs
in a corner of the kitchen space.
The current bathrooms no longer meet community standards, and
are not handicapped accessible. The bathroom or bathrooms must
be on the main floor, with handicapped accessible fixtures and
spacing. There is enough space in the kitchen after removing the
furnace to construct an adequate bathroom there.
The kitchen needs a better sink, more counter space, fewer refrigerators,
more cabinet space, better electrical service, and a new floor.
- Upgrade the electrical system.
The electrical system has been cobbled together over a period
of 80 years, and is in need of some updating. The service head
will be moved to the rear of the building, possibly with underground
wiring to the street. A few circuits will be replaced with newer
wire, some new circuits will be added, and all switches and plugs
will be checked for possible replacement.
- Add a handicapped accessible door, if necessary by constructing
a ramp in the rear leading to a side deck.
We have explored other ways of providing handicapped access and
concluded that a wider emergency door is necessary with a permanent
ramp. That will probably require either a ramp from the rear of
the building around to a side deck extending from the kitchen
to the emergency door. Along with at least one handicapped-accessible
bathroom and a new visual and audible smoke alarm, the door will
make the building convenient for handicapped access. The BSCL
may then proceed to designate the two parking spaces in the rear
of the building as handicapped parking. This would solve the problem
of abandoned cars being left there on occasion.
- Install a visual and audible smoke alarm.
The alarm must be visual to be usable for deaf people, and audible
for others.
- Replace fire extinguishers.
The current fire extinguishers are small and would be ineffective
in a major fire.
The Main Meeting Room
This part of the building raises the most concerns about historical
preservation, since it will affect the always-visible public areas
of the building which largely give it its character. It is important
that all renovations be faithful to the historical period to which
the building is being restored: original schoolhouse, expanded
schoolhouse, 1930's Community House, 1950's Community House.
The wallboard in the main meeting room has warped and deformed
with age. It probably cannot be refurbished, and needs to be replaced.
The original walls were wainscoting below and plaster above. The
wainscoting around the lower walls will be retained. The replacement
material for the upper walls has not yet been chosen.
- Remove tile from floor or cover floor with a better covering.
The tile on the floor dates from the 50's, and is practical but
not visually appealing. It may contain asbestos. The floor beneath
appears to be oak. The tile is to be removed. That might expose
a usable floor, or a deteriorated floor requiring recovering or
replacement.
- Reinforce main meeting room floor to permit dancing.
The Bulgarian church congregation found that group dancing in
the main meeting hall caused the floor to bounce alarmingly, indicating
a need to shore up the joists from below. This work can be undertaken
after the ductwork rerouting.
- Remove false ceiling or replace existing ceiling.
The current ceiling board has deteriorated and warped. Since it
must be replaced anyway, it may be desirable to open up the room
again to its original, higher ceiling. This decision requires
further research.
- Upgrade overhead lighting and stage lighting.
The lighting in the main room has never been adequate. It may
be possible to preserve the existing chandeliers and rewire them
for higher-wattage bulbs, but additional lighting may be necessary.
If the stage is to be used for community events it needs a modest
theatrical-style lighting system. This is a lower-priority expenditure.
The windows are in need of some glazing, hardware replacement
and track repair work. They are the building's most exceptional
feature, and must not be allowed to deteriorate.
The interior is badly in need of repainting. If this phase of
the renovation is delayed, it may be necessary to paint now and
repaint later after the construction is finished, but we would
prefer not to paint until the end of the job.
A party might feature music, dancing, food prepared in the new
kitchen, a rededication ceremony with short speeches, and a general
community celebration. It might be timed with the Fourth of July
parade or some other event, but more likely it will focus on the
successful completion of the renovation.
A Note for Barcrofters
We need your feedback, information and views! We welcome comments
on any part of this plan. Please direct them to Jim Kerr at (703)
892-6458. We also need your
help in executing the plan, so please think about what skills
or resources you might be able to contribute.
The Restoration Committee
Barcroft School and Civic League
Jim Kerr, Chair, plus Bruce Atkins, Scott Brinitzer, David Michaelson, Tom Palance, Matt Rohr
(our Architect), Randy Swart, Dave Voorhees... and you, if you want to be. Please
contact Jim Kerr at kerrs@bellatlantic.net if you would like
to be part of the committee.
Update - 2001
Some phases of the plan outlined above have been completed. Inside, the new heating and air conditioning are in, the kitchen has been completely renovated, the basement bathrooms were replaced with one on the ground floor, the main hall has a new oak floor and a new coat of paint. Kudos to David Michaelson for acting as our general contractor and supervising the contract work. And thanks to Barcrofter Mark Trone, ace floor installer, who installed the oak floor in a day using a crew of volunteers.
Outdoors, landscape designer Scott Brinitzer and volunteers have transformed the barren yard into a beautiful garden, a memorial to Carroll LeTellier. We have a beautiful new picket fence custom designed by Scott and built by our volunteers. And there are lots of beds and plantings of all kinds. Here is the garden plan.
We are not done yet. The accessibility ramp is yet to be done, and some more work on the mail hall. We still need to fit the stage out for lighting and a curtain so we can accommodate The Barcroft Players as that new group gets organized. We are still actively seeking donations for more work, and have a grant from the Warren Stambaugh Foundation to cover part of the cost of the accessibility work. With the help of two new volunteer architects, Glenn MacCullough and Rick Sasaki, we're well on our way to making the Community House a more valuable neighborhood asset!
This page was last revised on: January 29, 2001.
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