Let's Talk Rooves (or Roofs, It's All the Same to Me)

One of the things that makes Horner House, or any other second empire, so memorable is its mansard roof. So, what is a mansard roof? Technically, according to the dictionary "a roof that has four sloping sides, each of which becomes steeper halfway down." So, what does that really mean? Well, in the case of most second empires, a flat roofed "attic" area with a lower almost vertical secondary roof, leaving a very distinctive look. In our part of the country the flat roof has several options for covering, but that's a blog for another day. These days, the vertical roof also has many more options than it had back when Toad was first built and the only options were shingle or slate.

 Two vertical mansard roofs.

One of fun and distinctive parts of slate roofs are that they get to be more than just functional. The slate itself is large, overlaps, and can be cut into patterns. It can even be cut into different patterns for the same roof. 

 In the upper right corner of this photo is a board covered window in the vertical part of the mansard roof. Running horizontally across the middle of the photo is the metal flashing that has been exposed that lays along the bottom of the the mansard roof. It normally would lay down into the box guttering allowing rain to drain properly. There is one square slate missing which shows just how much of the slates are covered by other slates on a mansard roof. That's a LOT of rock!!!

This slate has fallen from the roof and is missing the corner. Most slate roofs are good for about 75-200 years. The Horner House is approximately 141 years old. We have already been told that our slate has passed it's prime and is in need of replacement.

Here is another photo of a fallen slate. For size comparison there is a concrete block and bricks in the photo. You can also see the area of the slate that has been painted red. This is the only area of the slate that was exposed when it was hanging.

  

 One last photo shows the three different shapes on Toad Hall. These are achieved with only two shapes of slates. 

 Next time we talk roofs (or rooves) we can talk styles of flat roofs, what replacement options are out there, and since it's October we'll throw in some Halloween Horror and talk cost too.

"If you only dream as high as your roof, then you are limiting yourself to dreaming higher"

-The Horner House Family

Historic Military Photos

As Mom and Papa are going through their attics and downsizing we have been on one long slow trip down memory lane. Some of these memories are relatively recent, but some are many generations old. As a girl I grew up to hearing my Papaw Williams talk about his time in the Navy. He had many stories, most funny, about his time on a repair ship in WWII. By contrast, my Grandpa Hebble never spoke of his time in the Navy. I have always been fascinated by the WWII era and probably explains why I have been trying so hard to get more information on when the Horner House was used as a VFW Post. Honoring history is important to us, as is honoring our veterans.

Papaw Delbert Williams

Grandpa Leonard (Bud) Hebble

One of the items that we have spent plenty of time discussing is a photo from WWI of my Great Grandfather Hobert William's entire unit. We also have the sweater his Mother sent him (because he was not supplied with one) and several letters between them including the one telling her that he had eloped! (Oh my!)

Great Grandpa Hobert Williams' Unit. Can you pick him out? Ha ha.



When Mom was first given the photo it was rolled up,  it had been stored in a cardboard tube and hadn't been looked at in untold years. We were not even able to look at it because it started to crack and break when handled. It was taken to a conservator who spent months bringing it back to life. Once he did we found that it had:

Co. D. S.A.T.C

Winona Lake, Ind.

Lieut. E.C. Timms Com'd'g   

Because the photo has so many men in it, Mom has decided to donate it to the Indiana State Museum. We are planning on taking it over one day in October, when our schedules line up. She's already been in contact with them and they think they might be able to get a list of the men who were in that unit. 

Also on the history and honoring our military front, the Indiana State Museum is looking for photos to put up for Veteran's Day.   http://www.indystar.com/story/news/2016/09/15/indiana-state-museum-seeks-photos-veterans-day-exhibit/90408268/ Please contribute if you can!

Many thanks to our military men and women from the Horner House! And we'll see you all soon.

-Amanda and the HH Family

Meet Our Newest/Oldest Family Member

As always this year has been full of bumps in the road for the Horner House and our family. Because of the sheer volume of these challenges we have been pretty quiet. Thanks to an old friend of ours, new to you, that is about to change...

Amy Hucks has been friends with Amanda since back in the day when Amanda's family still called her by her childhood nickname of Amy. This caused some initial confusion until Mom dubbed Amy Hucks... Amy Le Deuce, adopted her on into the family, and has let her get away with all kinds of mischief (while busting Amanda like normal) ever since. Family at it's best.

Thanks to Amy we have a number of old plans creaking into motion, and many new ones already working too. She has a background in IT (yeah!) and even better, fits well with the Irvington history of the house, as she is a polymer clay artist. You can find her on Facebook at Two Gals in a Clubhouse or under her newest project 1 Face a Day.

An example of faces in brooches that Amy Hucks sculpted from polymer clay.

One of Amanda's favorite "faces" sculpted by Amy Hucks.

To see examples of Amy's work in person, or have the chance to meet her, stop by the polymer clay booth at the Art Squared festival in Fountain Square this Saturday, September 17, 2016 near the Red Lion Grog House, rain or shine. And while you are there, pick up some works by local artists! Plenty of good works, good food, and good fun to be had by all ages!

Until next time, stay safe while you are partying out there.

-The Horner House Family