The People

Who We Are

The Old House Network is made up of our members, supporting members, the Board, and our two Directors. All you need to join the Network is to love old houses ands want to be part of the fun. So our membership could be quite huge, but for now it consists of about one hundred thirty member who receive our newsletter, Preserves, a few hearty souls have contributed to defraying the expenses of running the Network and become Supporting Members, and the Board. Our Board consists of the two Directors Pat B. McCarthy and Sharon Ferraro, also Douglas Burroughs, Catherine Bonnes, Nora Chaus and Jean Harden.

Our Members

Our members are people who love old homes. This does mean that the Network could be really huge, and some day it will be much bigger, but for now the recorded membership of the Old House Network is one hundred thirty. These folks get a copy of our newsletter, Preserves every other month. Preserves keeps our members informed about the Network meetings, workshops and social events.

Supporting Members contribute ten dollars a year to help with the expenses of running the Network. These wonderful folks get the newsletter and are able to hold registration openings for our hands-on workshops with no fee. Their generosity helps the network pay for printing, postage and other expenses.

Board Members

Our board members graciously contribute their time and expertise to the network. They are:

Sharon Ferraro, President of OHN, is also the Historic Preservation Coordinator for the city of Kalamazoo, Michigan. She has a master's degree in historic preservation from Eastern Michigan University. (Term ends March 31, 2010)

Pat B. McCarthy, Secretary of OHN, is a project manager and systems administrator and owner of a historic home in the South Street Vine Area Historic District. (Term ends March 31, 2010)

Catherine A. Bonnes, Treasurer of OHN, is a certified public accountant and owner of a historic home in the Stuart Area Historic District. She is also Treasurer of the Stuart Area Restoration Association. (Term ends March 31, 2009)

Richard C. Spigelmyer, Director of OHN, is a restoration contractor specializing in the repair and rehabilitation of historic windows. In business since 1951, Mr. Spigelmyer has consulted with ICOMOS, the National Park Service and many preservation organizations nationwide. Mr. Spigelmyer has served several terms on the Kalamazoo Historic District Commission. (Term ends March 31, 2008)

Douglas A. Burroughs, Director of OHN, is a building contractor specializing in restoration and remodeling of historic homes. (Term ends March 31, 2008)

Josh Willson, Director of OHN, is in business operating his family’s insurance agency. Her and his wife have restored a two story historic building in downtown Kalamazoo’s Haymarket Historic District, where they live on the upper floor and operate shop below. Mr. Willson has also been appointed by the Kalamazoo City Commission to serve on the Kalamazoo Historic Preservation Commission. (Term ends March 31, 2009)

Directors

Sharon Ferraro, Technical Editor of Preserves and Board CoChair. Sharon has always had a passion for old buildings and the history they embrace. Her bachelor's degree is in history and her Masters in historic preservation. Sharon works as the Historic Preservation Coordinator for the city of Kalamazoo. She serves as technical editor for the newsletter as well as sitting on the board. She considers this part of education and outreach at her job and throughout the area. The Old House Network was her idea. She wanted to reach out to people who felt the same way she does about the wonderful old houses that fill our landscape.

Pat McCarthy, Editor of Preserves, Director of the Old House Network. When Pat was a little girl in Battle Creek she would walk from one historic neighborhood of old houses to another to visit her best friend. She loved to look at the big old four squares, the low homey bungalows, and the high Queen Anne mansions of the different areas of down town. She admired the substantial presence of the old houses, their personalities, and quirky individuality given by the passage of time. She has not changed. Pat loves old houses and will not live in one less than sixty years old. She brings the organizational skills of a project manager to the network and publishes the newsletter.