Window to the past: Garlow Building project uncovers original glass
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MORGANTOWN - Scott Frederick was pulling tiles from a drop ceiling on the ground floor of the historic Garlow Building earlier this week when an unexpected discovery stopped him in his tracks.
Sitting just above the main storefront windows along the building's High Street facade, a wide strip of textured, decorative glass had been hidden from the outside world behind sheets of plywood.
"I had to do a double take," Frederick said. "Those windows were original when the building was completed in 1927. Just judging by the bolts that were used to cover them up with the plywood, I think those windows have been covered up since the mid-to-late 1950s."
Frederick has been spending plenty of time in the old building of late as part of a $1 million renovation project being undertaken by Roundtable Development.
Mark Downs is also partner in the project, and Frederick's first call after the discovery.
"One of the reasons why I like working with Mark so much is because when either of us find a really nice historic feature, we call each other and say, 'Get down here and look at this,'" Frederick said. "I brought Mark down and he was like, "Oh, my God. We have to save it.' That's why I like working with him because he is as interested in preservation as I am."
The glass features a geometric pattern and is textured with raised nubs. Beyond a couple small cracks, the panes are fully intact.
"It's fully leaded. The craftsmanship was very, very good back then. So, we're going to clean it up and I'm going to re-cement all the glass back into the leading to make sure it's waterproof," Frederick said. "It's nice to be able to be a steward of such a historic building. They just don't build buildings like this anymore."
Downs said the craftsmanship goes well beyond the windows.
"The Garlows lost the original building when the Strand Theater burned in the 1920s. So they very intentionally rebuilt because they never wanted to lose another building to a fire. So the entire building is made of fire block," he said.
The entire renovation is expected to take six to nine months. The June unveiling of the refurbished post clock in front of the structure served as the project's official launch.
A new eatery, 1942 Tacos & Tequila, is projected to open on the ground floor in mid-October.
Downs said the outdoor dining space in front of Gibbie's, known as a pedlet, will be extended along the full frontage of the Garlow Building.
"We're acquiring the planters and the railing as part of the renovation project. So that's bringing more outdoor seating to downtown Morgantown, which is highly desirable. People like to come to Gibbie's because they've got that outdoor seating there," Downs said. "And that's what it's about. Revitalization of downtown Morgantown is really at the core of what we're trying to do."