Restoring Irving Gill's "Williams House"

Original Geological Survey

The original geological survey for this house must have been extensive.  The original architectural plans lay out precisely what earth is fill.  It directs the builder to take earth from one section of the footprint to use as fill in another.  I am amazed that an architect who never visited the site could know the site so well. 

An important part of the original plans that were not implemented was a system of retaining walls on the west and north side of the house.  The walls were to be made of logs, following the log theme called for in the plans.  It is unfortunate that the walls were never installed. 

Dry rot on exterior beams

June 8, 2005

Today Ron Gilbert came by to look at the exterior beams on our house.  The beams extend beyond the roof line and provide a ledge for water.  The dry rot on the beams looks very severe on two beams and bad on all ten beams in question.  Ron reported that the wood is not as rotted as we feared and is working up a plan to splice them and cover them with copper caps.  My mantra lately has been “there’s nothing that can’t be fixed with money.”  I get a lot of laughs with the comment but it actually does make me feel better:  I have the ability to earn money, but I have no ability to splice beams.  So I feel pretty helpless in the structural department and more empowered in the money earning department.

Ron, by the way, is the owner of the California Hot Springs Resort, one of the other two historic sites in California Hot Springs.  Ron and Mary Gilbert bought the hot springs in 1983 and Ron brought the old, condemned recreation hall back to life.  For the 15 years prior he worked as a structural engineer.