Renovated Prescott House Opened to Public During Fundraiser

[imagebrowser id=137 template=”custom”]

MANASSAS, Va. — Those who saved the Prescott House from the wrecking ball invited the public to tour the Victorian-era home Saturday.

Built in 1906, on Prescott Avenue in Old Town, drew the ire of city officials who wanted to demolish the house for the better of 15 years after falling into disrepair. If the city had demolished the house, the space would then become a vacant lot.

The house averted demolition in May when it was sold to Real Estate Title Examiner Hugh Ickrath and his wife Kerry,who live two houses down from the Prescott House. The Ickraths also involved their neighbors Cecilia and Larry Linton in the purchase and renovation of the home.

Saving the house took submitting plans to the city which included fixing the porch and back stairs, and obtaining a permit for the work. The siding, flooring, the columns, and the roof had to be OK’d based upon the materials used, said Hugh Ickrath.

Everything was redone exactly the same from the width to the thickness to the detail. Once they got their plans approved they hired contractors that performed painting, roofing, siding, and framing.

The roofers had their work cut out for them as the roof failed, allowing water to come through and deteriorate the porch. Between the labor and materials, the wrap-around porch was estimated to be about $25,000 in repairs, said Ickrath.

Between the contractors and neighbors, there were about 18 people in all that helped. Altogether, the house cost about $80,000 to renovate.

With many of the major repairs complete, the house is now for sale. Ickrath says that he would be open to having someone buy the house to fix to continue to fix it up themselves or hire contractors. The Ickraths hope to have another family move into the renovated home.

When the previous owner passed away her the daughter worked with Ickrath to come to an agreement to sell the house because she wanted the home to be saved, said Ickrath.

During the open house on Saturday, the $5 donation fee charged at the door went to benefit Habitat for Humanity of Prince William County, Manassas, and Manassas Park.