A. F. Kisar House and Memorial Gardens
A Solidified Treasure
Take one look at the three-story brick home and you might think it plays host to a trove of treasurers. Take one step inside and you'll know it's true. Intricately hand-carved woodwork frames the doors as you step inside the house and from room to room, 15 in all. Each of the 12 fireplaces, many made of marble, boasts the same detailed woodwork,and ornate, imported tile covers many of the floors and walls.But the details that make this home so unique do not end there.
One special feature of the home is the parquet and carved ceilings, some of which were designed to be removed if there was a threat of high water - a very real possibility for downtown Point Pleasant, prior to the construction of the floodwall. There also are numerous pieces of antique furniture, such as a tiger-oak rocking chair and a rosewood piano, that are sprinkled throughout the rooms.
And then there's Hezekiah, the giant griffin carved out of golden oak, that stands guard in the foyer!
Located at 105 Third Street, in Point Pleasant, the house is truly has a unique presence. It was built in the late 1890s for A. F. Kisar, a jeweler; In 1962 Wayne and Margaret Kincaid purchased the home and after several years of extensive repairs and remodeling, moved in and made it their home. The Kincaid's operated a family-run grocery store on Main Street just a few yards away on Main Street.
Mrs. Kincaid would often open her house to visitors and loved to five tours. Her fondest dream was that, after her passing the home could be turned into a museum for all to tour and enjoy. That dream appeared to be all but impossible, when her heirs failed to find a benefactor. Main Street Point Pleasant, recognizing the potential for the home to become one of the key attractions in its downtown revitalization program, proposed to the Hartley's, a local successful family business that it purchase the home and donate it to the City.
In 2008 the transfer of ownership was completed and now Main Street Point Pleasant has taken on the task of restoring the home and preparing it to become a showcase of early architecture and integrating it into the story of the rich history of this river city.
The challenge is enormous! The slate roof needs replaced. The heating system requires an upgrade to an allseason temperature/humidity control, to protect the contents. The windows need replaced with a period-correct design. The foyer that was added next to the floodwall needs to be removed. The outbuildings need to be demolished and a period garden with parking needs to be constructed.
During 2009, Main Street Point Pleasant will be working to raise funding to accomplish the task ahead. $135,000 has already been secured toward the roof replacement. Bids will be requested in the spring for this phase. |
