Work on Stout-MacDonald House attracts attention

Men were working on the roof of the historic structure on Granada Boulevard, and many wondered why.

By Jacque Estes
| 3:48 p.m. August 15, 2017

The roof was not leaking on the Stout-MacDonald House, and workers made sure it didn't start. Courtesy photo

Ormond Beach Observer
News

During the past few weeks there has been a lot of activity at the top of the Stout-MacDonald House.

“The main roof was in good shape, but the tower portion’s flat roof needed to be repaired,” executive director of the Ormond Beach Historical Society, Elysha Petschauer said. “The city of Ormond Beach started to work on the flat portion and the cedar shakes.”

The recent repairs cost about $20,000, about $5,000 less than the amount approved by the city commission.

Robert Carolin, the city Leisure Service’s director, said the roof was not leaking, but water was pooling in the tower section. The roof was reconstructed with in a bevel so water would drain off.

“We replaced the four caps on the top of the tower and some of the cedar shakes,” Carolin said. “It’s the first phase of repairs. The next phase we will put out an RFP for the siding.”

Next phases have to wait for the city commission to vote on Capital Improvement money. The vote is expected to take place during the September meeting. The Capital Improvement money would be used to repair the outer fabric, the siding and window trim.

“Hopefully the budget will pass and we can start working on returning the MacDonald House to being the jewel of Ormond Beach,” Petschauer said. “Once the outer repairs are made we can start fundraising for a museum.”