Historic Construction that time travels back to the City of Henricus, the second successful English settlement in the New World.
Explore a moment in time where 300 settlers, led by Sir Thomas Dale, departed the unhealthy environment of Jamestown with the hope of establishing a strong English Colony. Learn from your visit how these brave settlers lived under the constant threat of attack by Indians and Spaniards while building their colony. Henricus Historical Park re-creates this historical journey for the visitor transporting you back four hundred years. Historic setting in a time where property ownership by the common man was a unique concept. The innovative idea of property ownership by a common man combined with the development of the first English hospital at this location. The chartering of the first college in the New World, the English home of Pocahontas, the establishment of tobacco as the first cash crop in the New World, all happened here the City of Henricus.
Gepetto Craftsmen were instrumental in construction of the crown jewel of the Henricus historic site’s replica church. From the groud up the chapel is built with historically authentic technique by our craftsmen. The opportunity to hand hew, and fit each joint allowed us to share in the same joy of craftsmanship and strong independent spirit shared by these pioneers ages ago. From the handmade glass windows to the the gothic style arches we were able to slip back in time and work with hand tools again.
Give us a call if your modern home needs an antique replica, solid wood centerpiece, or if you are a park service representative looking for qualified restoration craftsmen.
Historic Construction : Building Methods and Materials
For National Park Service and other projects that require authentic historic woodworking techniques and tools that are period specific:
Beam Joinery
Waddle and Daub
Historic Joinery Techniques
Materials guided irregularities
The advantages to using traditional joinery in preservation & restoration projects are shown in the full character of a historic building. Matching the traditional joinery techniques in construction, repairs, restorations, and other preservation activities ensures the structural integrity of a historic building by matching the existing joinery with a joinery technique that’s compatible with it’s original construction methods. Traditional joinery honors the wooden materials and makes a stronger, more durable end product. The older design methods account for expanding and contracting materials because they had such a thorough understanding of their craft. Modern joinery – on the other hand – generally prioritizes minimal time, and multiple materials like screws and glues. Pairing modern adhesives with historic joinery can compromise the structure of a historic building. Historic construction that values each trade and period specific methods add’s to that period’s methods being maintained in the trade community as well.
Historically Accurate Hand Built Techniques
Traditional joinery is a time-tested method that is much stronger than modern joinery and lasts for generations, even thousands of years. The mortise and tenon joint is the most ancient traditional joint and has been found in the wooden planks of a vessel 43.6 meters long that dates to 2,500 BCE. Traditional Chinese architecture as old as 5000 years used these methods for a perfect fit without using fasteners and glues. The gepetto craftsmen keep these skills and traditions alive in the modern and historic project they complete.
Historically Accurate Replica Construction Contractor
As you are renovating your historic home you will find the choice presented to you to tear down one set of window trim,
doorway molding or any part that can not be immediately sourced or replaced. Before you throw away the character
and history of your property one small piece at a time, please contact us to recreate your historic pieces with their full character.
Historic homes are often designed around an entry hall or great room. This greatroom wall hosts a lighted display of period china. All electrical wiring is hidden and the accent lighting on the china cabinet is dimmable so that a warm glow can be kept in the stairway.
Historic Woodworking for Period Authentic Home Renovation
The historic architectural touches include the upper ballaster & solid wood windows,
Fabricated from Locust for a historic farm restoration.
Historic Wooden Gate Construction
All of Gepetto’s projects are handmade in our Richmond Virginia Shop.
Historic Wooden Gate Construction
Gates compliment many styles of fence from picket styles to agricultural styles of wooden fencing. Rustic split rail styles in pine or western red cedar can be treated as a compliment to the finished look of the gates. Five bar gates easily accept wire such as farm and field fence, woven wire fence, welded wire fence, or even chain link. You may even use these strong wood gate frames for picket styles of fence by attaching to picket to the face of them. English style gates are a much classier finishing touch than farm tubular gates often used with agricultural fences. Gates may be painted or stained nearly any color to match existing fences, even vinyl post and rail fences.
Unique solid wood construction utilizes a cedar to achieve the long lasting weather resistance of these solid wood mortised gates. Gepetto craftsmen took on the ambitious project of mortising through 8 inches of solid cedar, on an arc! We can stretch the boundaries of what you think is possible with wood!
Primary gate joints are mortised and tenoned.
Gates are designed with a heavy duty top rail over the entire width for extra strength.
Gate top rails are chamfered cross braced for additional strength and durability.
Rail and cross bracing reinforced with stainless steel bolts.
Superior quality timber used throughout gate frame and rails.
Gates may be automated with gate operators and accessories.
Ornamental wood gates may be hung as right or left hand.
Gates have beautifully planed natural wood finish.
Gates may be re-painted using water-based or oil-based paints or leave ‘as-is’ to weather naturally.
Suitable for residential, commercial, and agricultural uses.
Gates easily mount to masonry columns, wood, or steel posts.
Gepetto has supplied historic preservation in Virginia since 2009
Accurate Materials and Technique
Accurate Materials and Technique restore with integrity to the core.
Historic preservation supplier for millwork, doors, windows and shutters
Made In Virginia
Your choice of Gepetto to supply your projects
Keeps the trade knowledge alive in VA
One Of A Kind
Whether working from rotted out existing
or fabricating to match historic record Gepetto craftsmen match drawings or photographs
with historically accurate technique
Historically woodworkers did not have machine tools available for constructing the decorative and functional pieces for large plantation homes. Gepetto craftsmen try to replicate the all wood construction techniques used historically, with a blend of late 19th century machinery to keep the labor time at a minimum while achieving an authentic all wood construction. Gepetto gives historic preservation projects a single source supplier for all wood features. Gepetto uses the modern advantage of machine tooling to meet your timeline an budget needs for 21st Century Historic Preservation.
Virginia Historic Preservation Supplier
At the Hewicks plantation project, solid wood gates constructed from spanish cedar form an understated entrance to the historically long drive lined with mature willow oak trees. True to 18th century construction methods our shop craftsmen used true through mortise for the pickets. Underlying their elegant beauty lies the arc of the upper support. Cutting and shaping the arc challenges the technique of solid wood mortise construction because of the difficult alignment of the holes through which each slat passes. The Gepetto craftsmen hand built shop tools to speed the intricate manufacture process while meeting the tight production schedule. Can you believe these gates were only allowed five days of shop time? We can meet your scheduling needs for even the most complex orders. The four gate pieces set the stage at the public road and in front of the house at the end of the private drive. The plantation estate is a popular site for weddings in the 21st century with it’s rich character. Now restored, the wooden gates greet the eyes of new generations of visitors to this historic 18th century home.
Please take a look through the gallery of images detailing the construction it’s accent to the grounds of the plantation.
Gepetto also fabricated the exterior trim, historically accurate windows, and refurbished the doors in this project.
From the moment you arrive down the spectacular tree lined entrance, of Hewick Plantation, the vision will stay in your memory for years to come. The owners and staff work continuously to recreate the elegance of historic southern pageantry and are committed to preserving this heritage. The beautiful property, exquisite landscaping, and open lawn will provide the perfect backdrop for you to craft a truly unique and unforgettable day. Hewick Plantation is a premier destination for a family gatherings, outdoor weddings, or large social galas. The property is listed in both the Virginia Historic Landmarks Register and on the National Register of Historic Places.
Now a two-story, five-bay, L-shaped brick dwelling, it originally had1+1⁄2stories, but raised to a full two stories in the mid-19th century. The rear ell is popularly believed to have been built in the late 17th century.
