New Cedar Shake Roof For the Horsesheds

Places

Jun 27

*The Horsesheds in 2020 glowing in the sun with a new yellow cedar roof.*
Photograph by Ken Campbell

The Village Improvement Society reroofed the Horsesheds in 2020 for the third time in the 66 years since the VIS began maintaining the structure in 1954. The VIS reroofed the Horsesheds in 1972 and 1997. The VIS made many other structural improvements through 2014. It was decided the roof would need replacement within five years at a cost of $40,000 to $50,000. The VIS Board of Directors began to fundraise and to research the means of replacing the roof in accordance with the wishes of the Jaffrey Historic District Commission to use cedar shakes on the Horsesheds similar to those used on the Meetinghouse. The Meetinghouse was re-shingled in 2017 with old growth, Alaskan yellow cedar shakes that may last up to 40-50 years rather than the usual 20-25 years.

Fundraising publicity began in 20I7 at the VIS July 4th Ice Cream Social with a 10-foot banner and an article in the local papers. In November 2019 a request was sent out to VIS members and friends, noting that the VIS would match up to $10,000 in donations through the bequest of Mary Kidd. Over $20,000 was raised, thanks to the VIS’s many very generous donors including seven people who donated $1,000 or more and became VIS Life Members. Adding other money that the VIS had reserved, once again VIS members met the challenge of re-roofing the Horsesheds. The roof is warranted for 30 years and cost $41,120.

The 2,200 square foot roof was finished on June 25, 2020. The crew stripped the 1997 shingles, hammered down thousands of the old nails, and installed layers of felt, plywood underlayment, felt, "cedar breather” and old growth yellow cedar shakes on the side facing the old gravestones. The new roof, with old-growth yellow cedar shakes, 5/8” thick, will match the roof put on the Jaffrey Meetinghouse in 2017. It was installed by Guyer and Son Roofing of Marlborough.

The following photos by Ken and Suze Campbell tell the story of the reroofing which took just three days, from Monday, June 22 to Thursday, June 25, with a day out for an inaccurate prediction of rain.