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The 2002 Workshop at the Allen Weathers house was quite
a success and planning for a 2003 Workshop was underway. Recent events,
however, brought the house to a critical point. The original arson
damage was being dealt with by clean-up days organized by the Alabama
Historical Commission followed by the HCN workshop, which began repair
of the roof. This repair was only partially completed when heavy rains
and severe weather of Fall 2002 caused serious water damage to the
interior. Weakened floors now make it unsafe for volunteers to proceed
with work.
These events emphasize both the great need for workshops such as
those held by Heritage Conservation Network, and the equally great
need for quick response to damaging events that only an ample number
of volunteer participants can bring about. The ability to react
more quickly when needed would reduce the risk of losing important
historic structures. The fate of the Allen Weathers house is still
undecided, but will now require an even greater amount of resources
to restore."
The Allen Weathers house is one of the most significant early houses
in the Choccolocco Valley. Constructed in the late 1830's, the two-story
extended I-house features sophisticated interior Federal Period
woodwork, believed to have been produced by Lev and Griffin Borders,
known slave artisans, whose work is profiled in the book "Made
in Alabama."
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