I grew up loving old homes. My personal old-house-journey really took off in 2013 when my partner and I bought an American Foursquare home in Buffalo, NY which was built in 1897.
It had wood floors, beautiful wood trim and wainscoting, and even some leaded glass windows that I knew to cherish. Taking an interest in “fixing up old homes,” as what was happening all around us, I mentioned to a friend that I needed to get new windows. He was surprised to hear me say that since he knew I had an interest in preservation and he quickly corrected me.
What I didn’t know was how insidious the marketing for vinyl windows had become. I thought I liked all things old homes and yet thought - like many people - that old windows were an inconvenience that needed to be replaced.
One thing led to another and I found myself in a new career working for Northwood Historic Window Restoration. For nearly four years I had the opportunity to restore countless windows from historic homes and buildings all over the Northeast including the George Eastman Mansion in Rochester, NY and 20th Century Club in Buffalo, NY. Most notably for me, our own home’s windows were restored and ready for another hundred years.
Years ago, we visited Eastport Maine on a whim in February. We fell in love, kept coming back, and eventually started plotting our move. Now we are here and ready to restore some windows in Downeast Maine.
Micah Winship - Owner of Overstory Restoration