We decided that we would attempt a compromise between complete restoration and pure whimsy. We would return the two-story front house to its original configuration, but would retain most of the added second floor of the cape. Our plan was to restore part of the roofline of the cape, but would recess the upstairs walls four feet inside of those of the first floor.
The north side was one of our greatest challenges. A porch, one of several, had been added to this side, as had a large, Victorian pantry. Apparently, the roof of this latter excrescence had leaked, necessitating the addition of yet another roof over it!
After we had removed all of these structures, we discovered that the sagging north end of the front house had dropped at least four inches before these 19th-century sections were added. As a result, we were able to jack the older section only one or two inches, and north rooms of the front house still slope towards this corner.
