Burnt to a "Crisp": A Brief Overview
Today, the building is owned by the Newkirk Historical Society and used as the Newkirk Community Museum. There is no ventilation and the temperature and humidity are uncontrolled. There is also an awful smell in the back of the building. This is where the presence of a basement becomes important. It is rumored that during the building's days as a general store, the basement was used to store a copious amount of potatoes. After the fire in 1918, there is no sign of a basement noted on any of the fire maps. This means that if there was indeed a basement, it was likely filled in after the fire. People have speculated that the potatoes were never removed, and that the basement was filled in with the potatoes still in there. This is problematic. When potatoes are left for a long time to rot, they release glycoalkaloids. These gases are toxic to humans, and if left to built up in a space without proper ventilation, they could potentially cause central nervous system damage and even death. Although this is unlikely, there is still a possibility that this potato problem could be more serious than we originally "tot". Thankfully, the back area of the building is currently used to store artifacts and objects; it is not frequently occupied by humans. Ventilation SolutionsI did some research into two options to help this ventilation issue. The first option is installing mini-split A/C systems. These have some similarities to traditional A/C systems. There is an outdoor compressor/condenser and an indoor air handling unit that are connected by a conduit line. Whereas traditional A/C systems have bulky ducts and require a lot of installation, mini-splits are ductless, requiring only a 3-inch hole to link conduit to the outside portion. It is a flexible zoning system so one small unit could be used per room, or the building owner could opt for only one room to be cooled. Mini-splits are inconspicuous on both the inside and the outside of the building. The outdoor unit could be on the roof or hidden behind some landscaping. The downside is the cost. Mini-splits are rather expensive, costing approximately $1500 to $2000 per ton of cooling capacity. According to my rough estimate, the Haynes Building would need about 4 tons of cooling for the whole building. This would be a could option for flexible control of the air temperature and humidity in the building. Of course, my input is merely a suggestion; a professional would need to "hash" out the details. A second, more affordable option, is a rooftop fan. There is no condenser or air handling unit, so there is no actual temperature or humidity control. It is not visible from the outside street level though, requiring only a hole in the ceiling to get the vent to the inside. It is much cheaper than any traditional A/C system, and would somewhat manage the moisture and smell problem in the back of the building. Once again, a professional would need to determine the appropriate course of action.
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Amy HostetterCurrent student. Archives
January 2019
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