John Nelson House and Barn, Minute Man National Historical Park: Historic Structure and Assessment Report

John Milner Architects, Inc.

The National Park Service proposes to implement stabilization and preservation actions to correct critical deferred maintenance needs for health and safety and resource protection for two historic structures located in Minute Man National Historical Park, the John Nelson House and Barn. Prior to conducting this work, the NPS commissioned the completion of historic structure research and documentation. The goal of this Historic Structure Assessment Report is to provide informed preservation recommendations, to enable appropriate treatments, and to correct critical deferred maintenance needs for health, safety, and resource protection. This report provides recommendations for specific actions that are intended to maintain the existing integrity and character of the two historic structures. The following primary tasks were carried out in preparing the HSAR: 1. Archival research to retrieve information related to the significance and developmental history of the buildings and site, and to assist in identifying the character-defining features and evaluating their integrity. 2. Architectural, structural, HVAC, plumbing, electrical, and safety investigations to retrieve and document physical evidence in order to assess existing conditions and to formulate recommendations for the proposed preservation work. 2. Statement of recommended treatment philosophy consistent with the evaluation of significance and proposed use for the buildings. 3. Statement of recommended treatment of the properties. Architectural investigations revealed extensive physical evidence in support of the construction chronology and character-defining features. This evidence is presented in the form of detailed descriptions and annotated photographs. An assessment is made of the building’s architectural features and recommendations were made for appropriate treatments to maintain the existing integrity and character of the historic structure. An assessment of the building’s structural, HVAC, plumbing, electrical, and safety components was conducted to identify national and local code deficiencies at the buildings, and evaluate overall operational performance of the systems for reuse. The HVAC, plumbing, electrical and safety sections of the report are organized by building system, with operational problems and major code deficiencies identified for each. Code issues are presented are based on current day, State of Massachusetts requirements. Recommendations are designed to improve the facility’s infrastructure conditions, energy performance, code compliance, and maintainability.

John Nelson House and Barn, Minute Man National Historical Park: Historic Structure and Assessment Report

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