Modern Phoenix Seeks Volunteers to Restore 1940s Sunnyslope House

By Niki D'Andrea Wed., Aug. 31 2011 at 8:30 AM

Categories: News

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Courtesy of Alison King

The Modern Phoenix crew, when they were restoring the Haver House

Alison King wants you to help put the "labor" in Labor Day weekend.

The founding editor and designer of local mid-century modern website, Modern Phoenix, was introduced to a quaint, 1940s house in Sunnyslope in desperate need of repair. And she's looking for volunteers to help her with the job.

The house, built by Walter Lovinggood in 1945, was moved from its original location along the central corridor in Sunnyslope, to the location of the Sunnyslope Historical Society Museum (opening Sunday, September 11), which currently owns the house.

King says there are very few houses from the 1940s left in Sunnyslope, and that the Modern Phoenix community and Sunnyslope Historical Society will be seeking historical designation for the house once restorations are finished.

And that's where additional volunteers come in.

"We need help with re-texturing the walls, painting, trim and finish, and hanging period curtains," King says, adding that Modern Phoenix plans to try and re-create a 1940s interior for the house and will also be looking for vintage 1940s furniture, and textiles to create an atmosphere for visitors when the museum opens.

It sounds like a lot of work, and it is, but King says the group from Modern Phoenix will make the most of it. "We all want to help and we all want to learn," she says. "For many us, we're total strangers, so this is a good opportunity to meet people who might have been on the message board ... some people prefer meeting face-to-face."

The schedule for Labor Day weekend includes resurfacing walls on Saturday and Sunday, September 3 and 4; doorway trim and caulking on Monday, September 5; and interior painting and final vacuuming on Friday and Saturday, September 9 and 10.

"Many folks who have responded are residents or have a history of family there," King says. "The Sunnyslope Historical Society reached out to us with a desire to engage future generations."

Those interested in volunteering should contact King at alison@modernphoenix.net.

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