Last week, the Van Riper House received a new roof. Our previous cedar-shake roof had deteriorated badly, and we decided to replace it with a modern asphalt shingle roof with a lifetime warranty. While this is not optimal in the context of historic preservation, our only alternative given our limited resources would have been to place a tarp on the roof, which we agreed would be an untenable eyesore.
This new roof will provide 30+ years of protection for our cherished historic landmark, and will allow us to start making progress on interior work.
The roof project depleted about 75% of our savings, which we will need to make up for in fundraising the rest of the year. If anyone has any ideas for alternatives to our Street Fair, which has declined in profitability, please let me know. As of now, we are considering running a GoFundMe for $5,000 or $10,000 summer into fall.
Our goal as of now is to refurbish the left-hand side of the house, which is in decent shape, in order to host events, meetings, and educational programs in the near future.
Another goal is to get the Van Riper House registered on the National and State Registers of Historic Places, which is in progress thanks to assistance from two Van Riper descendants, Edwin Van Riper and Chris Schopfer.
Thank you all for coming together as an organization to make great progress over the past year. The Van Riper House could have been a lost cause without all of you, and we are eternally grateful for your support.
If anyone is willing to donate to replenish our funds, please see our donation page. All donations are fully tax-deductible.