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Historic Wood House illuminated Bob Pennell photo The picturesque Wood House continues to draw onlookers - now even at night, thanks to a restoration project that gave the circa 1870 house electricity, water for landscaping and a 48-star flag that reflects the era when it was moved to make way for a highway project. Dwelling built by Civil War veteran gets electricity for the first time in a generation By PAUL FATTIG EAGLE POINT - For the first time in nearly a quarter of a century, electricity is flowing to the historic Wood House. The resulting golden glow from floodlights bathing it at night has countless passers-by stopping to view and take photographs of the picturesque farmhouse located along Highway 62 about a mile north of the Linn Road intersection. Plugging the circa 1870 house into the electrical grid is part of a major restoration effort by the Eagle Point Historical Society. "I've looked at that house for 30 years and always thought someone should save it," said Skip Geear, society president and chairman of the Wood House project. "Now we're doing it. It has a new lease on life." Indeed, the timbers in the old house have been shored up. Fallen shingles have been replaced. And a fence reminiscent of one which would have suited the old place is being erected. Built by Civil War veteran Marvin Sylvester Wood, the house was last occupied by his descendant Walter Wood, who lived in it until his death in 1974. The house was moved several hundred feet in 1947 to its present location to make way for a highway project. The flag flying over the house now has 48 stars, reflecting the era when the house was moved. Through the years, the house has retained its historic characteristics, Geear said, noting that the last occupant cooked on a wood-burning stove. Even when electricity was originally brought to the farm, the Woods only installed three light bulbs, he observed. "We have had to remove the old porch decking and roofing," he said. "We also removed the old shingles, but we replaced them with shingles from an old house in the Lake Creek area." An electric pump is being installed in the well to water trees and other landscaping plants around the property, he said. An alarm system has also been installed. Although visitors cannot go inside the house because of liability concerns, they are encouraged to stop and look at it, Geear said. "The house is done now," he said of the current restoration project. "We want to preserve the house so it will stand for at least another 50 years." The deed to the house was given to the society in 1999 by property owners James and Antonia Folan, who live in California. The society, which had originally planned to move it downtown near the Eagle Point Museum, now has a seven-year lease on the property. The group will pay $200 a month to lease one acre, which includes the house. It also has an option to purchase the Folans' entire adjacent 38-acre parcel at any time during the lease. "It's not one person doing this - everyone has been working to make this happen," Geear said of the restoration effort. In particular, he cited Barbara Hegne, a society member and curator of the local museum. The society also plans to erect a sign that will present the house's storied past along with the names of local businesses and people who donated muscle, money or material to help restore it. For people who want to financially help the society and its efforts, the old shingles for the Wood House are available for $2 each at the house, the Eagle Point Museum or the Twin Pines Smokehouse in Shady Cove. A ribbon cutting and rededication of the Wood House is planned for Oct. 13. Reach reporter Paul Fattig at 776-4496 or e-mail him at [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.