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About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 24, 2015)
9A THE DAILY ASTORIAN • THURSDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2015 Flavel House: ‘It hasn’t been this way in a long time’ Continued from Page 1A Fixer-upper Built in 1901 for Capt. George Conrad Flavel, the Flavel House is the architec- tural equivalent of a transition fossil, possessing features from the Victorian and Colo- nial Revival periods. It was added to the National Regis- ter of Historic Places in 1986. When Newenhof bought the house for more than $221,000, its visual grandeur had faded. Outside, the win- dows were boarded up and the roof was falling apart. Inside, the plaster is cracked and cratered. Layers of wall- paper are peeling away. The ÀRRU RQ WKH VHFRQG VWRU\ LV rotted in places. And most surfaces remain covered with a thick coat of dust and grim. “Some people thought it should be torn down, thought it was in bad shape,” Ne- wenhof said. “But, to me, it doesn’t look nearly as bad as a lot of houses.” Since then, he has replaced the roof, repaired the two chimneys, removed a base- ment furnace and restored electrical service. Though he hooked water and sewer back up, he will need to replumb the entire house before any- one can actually drink the water. When the boards on the windows came down, Muri- el Jensen said it was as if the eyes of the house were open- ing up. “Even before the Christ- mas lights, when we could see him working inside with the lights on downstairs, it was wonderful,” she said. “It’s like the house is alive again.” Meanwhile, Newenhof is replacing broken windows, some balusters and the front porch railing, aiming to rec- reate the original design. His next project is to heat the house. Despite the house’s hag- gard appearance, “it’s built like a rock,” said John Good- enberger, a local expert in his- toric preservation. The houses of the era were built to last, Newenhof said. “A new house, if it hasn’t Joshua Bessex/The Daily Astorian Lights adorn the balcony and front porch of the Flavel House. ‘It’s like the house is alive again.’ Muriel Jensen Astoria resident and author been lived in for 25 years, would be rotted away,” he said. If the Flavel House has to have a non-Flavel occupant, Goodenberger is glad it’s Ne- wenhof. “Greg is local, he owns (City Lumber), he knows how to do the work, he loves history and he’s going to live here,” Goodenberger said. “All of these things are a nice conclusion to a long story.” Christmas memories Along with dozens of the Flavels’ Christmas cards that Newenhof recovered from the attic, there are 1920s-era photos of Mary Louise Flavel growing up there as a child at Christmastime. She moved out of the house in 1990 and now lives in the Portland area. This year, Newenhof plans to invite his own family — his brother, sister-in-law and their children — to see the long ne- glected house. The house may not be ready to live in, but it’s ready to create new Christmas memories. “It hasn’t been this way for a long time,” Curt Johnson said. “It’s really got a lot of life and excitement, a lot of hope.” Joshua Bessex/The Daily Astorian A Christmas tree lights up a window of the Flavel House. M erry Christmas and happy new year Give your little elf The gift of good health. Merry Christmas from CMH The caregivers at Columbia Memorial Hospital would like to wish your family Happy Holidays! We would like to thank you for your support and trust in allowing us to be your children’s healthcare provider. from M ORISSE L OGGING This Holiday Season and throughout the coming year, may you and your family be surrounded with peace, joy, good health and love. ,_JOHUNL:[YLL[(Z[VYPH6YLNVU^^^JVS\TIPHTLTVYPHSVYN
