The Queen Anne style Corbin House was built on the island of Martha’s Vineyard, MA in 1891. By the early 1990’s it was neglected and endangered, when purchased and restored by Peter Norton, creator of Norton Virus Protection for personal computers.
Then the house was destroyed by fire in February 2001. Norton decided to rebuild it. Fortunately, the house had been well documented by the restoration architects at Design Associates in Cambridge, MA and further information could be gathered from what remained of the original. While well beyond what most of us will ever face in restoring our homes, the project is a wonderful example of what is possible with good documentation, sufficient resources, and a commitment to preservation. It also makes me happy that some of the money I spent on virus protection in the past may have helped rebuild the house.
More about the fire here: https://vineyardgazette.com/news/2001/02/09/historic-house-burns
More about the rebuilt house here: http://www.design-associates.com/projects/nantucket-marthas-vineyard/the-corbin-norton-house
Restoring Your Historic House, The Comprehensive Guide for Homeowners, is filled with information to help historic house lovers restore their homes. It can be found in bookstores nationwide and through online retailers.
Signed copies can be ordered directly from the author on this site.
Ask your local bookstore to contact their W.W. Norton rep to order copies.
#antiquehome #antiquehomes #historicalhomes #historicalhouse #historic #oldhome #oldhouse #preservation #homerestoration #houserestoration #architecturelover #restoringyourhistorichouse #restoration #houserehab #historicpreservation #corbinnortonhouse #queenanne #marthasvineyard #oakbluffs