CPA Projects – Detailed Report

The goal is to restore the windows in the historic William Flagg Homer House located in the Pleasant Street Historic District at 661 Pleasant Street. William Flagg Homer was the uncle of famed American artist Winslow Homer, whose artwork includes many pieces depicting scenes in and around Belmont, including the Homer House. The BWC rescued the House from destruction in 1927, and its members have donated their time and resources ever since to preserve the Homer House for future generations.  Nearly all the windows in the Homer House are inoperable, as well as inefficient and dangerous. Most are original to the house and have never been repaired. Many have broken panes of glass, deteriorating wood frames, and loose glazing. All of these problems diminish the value of the House, and pose a risk of harm to the public. In addition, the fact that the windows are inoperable means fresh air does not circulate, which increases the risk of mold, and negatively affects air quality in the House. Further, many of the windows have deteriorated to a point where they have large gaps between the glass and the frames, which significantly affects heating costs during the cold weather.  The BWC is an all-volunteer 501(c)(3) charitable organization whose members donate time and resources to maintain the Homer House. Membership fees alone are inadequate to cover ordinary annual expenses, so the BWC regularly rents the Homer House for functions, which provides important additional assets that are used to pay expenses. The dangerous condition of the windows poses concerns for visitors, and deters renters from selecting the Homer House as the location for their function, especially when children are involved.   The window restoration project will restore glass, sashes, frames, glazing and hardware to make the windows more energy efficient and safe. It will also involved restoration of three stained glass windows, and exterior broken mouldings around several windows.