Historic Home Renovations Nearing Completion

For nearly five years, the Davis family has been working on renovating their historic Hollidaysburg home. The 1877 home, once in a state of disrepair, has been transformed into a beautiful residence suitable for a modern family, with nods to its rich history around every corner.

In the Spring 2023 Homebuilder, the Herald documented the family's long journey, with its many ups and downs along the way. Since then, the family has finally moved into the home and is enjoying each day making new memories there.

Both Matt and Annie are Hollidaysburg natives, and their history with the home dates back to their youth. Finally moving in was "surreal," they said.

"We would sit here and say, 'Is this really our house?'" Matt said.

The home has been restored from basement to attic, both inside and out. Matt and Annie have completed much of the work themselves and have a deep devotion to it. Matt said he looks around at the walls knowing the location of each water line, HVAC vent and more because he has carefully worked to install it all.

The couple and their three children moved in the last week of April, and Annie said that they settled in quickly. The kids all love their rooms, they said, which nod to the home's historicity while providing a great space for their kids to relax. Annie said that her two boys' friends all enjoy hanging out in the attic, which has been transformed to a bedroom and living space for them (shown on Page C-6).

Since the initial story, the family has also completed the home's flooring, bathrooms, kitchen, mudroom and more.

They've continued their commitment to maintaining the home's original character, with doors, wood, furniture, and other features sourced from historic buildings, both local and abroad.

Their brand-new kitchen features custom-built cabinetry by Precision Woodworks of Martinsburg. Matt said that this is his favorite room and also where family and friends congregate to enjoy quality time and conversation.

"It's the focal point," he said, adding that it was one place where they really invested to make it exactly what they wanted.

Besides custom cabinets, the new countertops, stained glass window, and top-of-the-line appliances also add character. An antique library ladder from Annie's parents' home will slide on a track to assist in reaching upper cabinets.

The original home didn't have indoor plumbing, Matt said, but when completing the two bathrooms, they tried to imagine the home's original state and remain faithful to it. The master bathroom, with its unique antique doors, features a claw foot tub, double vanities, and a large, modern stand-in shower. The second bathroom features an antique dresser transformed into a vanity and antique-style tile flooring.

Since the last story, the couple has also settled a multi-year lawsuit with the borough concerning the home's historic windows. Since the Allegheny Street home falls within the Hollidaysburg Historic District, they are subject to its ordinance.

According to the borough website, "The purpose [of the Historic District] is to protect and preserve the architectural character of the Borough's historic buildings."

There is a historic district manual with guidelines regarding construction and renovation of homes within the district and specific permits are needed for work on the homes.

According to the Davis family, there was much contention and back-and-forth with the borough's historic district regarding their choice of vinyl windows to replace the original single-pane glass windows, which Matt said where in very bad condition.

"It was like [the borough] was using our tax dollars to sue us for work we had done," Annie said.

Matt reassured that he believes there is definitely a place for the district's contributions and regulations but said that the vinyl windows they chose were "identical" to the shape and character of the original.

Originally, the borough requested they try to restore all the home's original wood windows, and Matt was quoted more than $90,000 for all wood replacements. After a long legal battle, they settled to agree to replace the six front vinyl windows with aluminum clad the same shape as the existing vinyl, which will cost them approximately $7,000 if Matt installs them, he said.

The couple has been comforted by community support through the process. They circulated an online petition during the lawsuit, which received a great deal of community support. Matt said that he can't go outside without someone walking by telling them that they are doing a great job with their work. They said that it's nice to know the community sees the home and their restoration work the way they do.

Besides the window replacement, the last large major project left to complete is the exterior painting. They have chosen a dark blue color and started the long process of restoring the wood exterior of the home.

They've decorated the home with carefully selected furniture and décor, which fit perfectly to blend the modern and the historic.

As the major renovation projects come to a close, the family now has the chance to add extra-special personal touches to the home. Annie's late father was an artist, and one of his pieces has become a focal point in the dining area. Also featured in the dining area is a cabinet that had belonged to Matt's great-grandparents. They also would like to personalize the indoor space by adding large family photos to the main living areas.

The family has also recently added a deck behind the home and are decorating the outdoor living space with various picturesque plants.

As with any renovation, there are endless projects, but "that'll never stop," Matt said.

For now, the family can finally begin making memories in their long-awaited forever home.

They've documented the progress of renovations on Instagram, and anyone can follow along with them @thehouseonallegheny.