About Us

We are Julie and James Lynch

We bought our amazing 5300 square foot house during the beginning of the housing/mortgage crisis in 2009. Although in “move-in” condition, we saw so much that had to be done before we felt really at home.  Both my husband and I are book dealers and have been selling new, used and rare books online for 15 years. We are Commonwealth Book Company, Inc.  

We work predominantly at home, affording us flexibility to juggle work on the house, cataloging or packaging books and regular family life. Sometimes it has been difficult to strike a balance between spending money and time on the business and on the house renovation. The time we spend with the children has sometimes meant working together on big house projects.

All this work has to be done by James, my husband (with help from Julie his wife, and the children). Although an Historian by training (master’s in American History) He has no formal training in this work of the heart. He has learned quite a bit ‘on the job’ . From mixing his own soft mortar with the same sand from the local creek beds as was done 150 years before  to carefully reconstructing the plaster moulding that had disintegrated in a corner of the dining room where the leaking gutter outside had damaged the inside plaster walls and moulding; To rebuilding the rotted balcony to repairing broken window counterweights. James has learned not only from local craftsmen, the Internet and modern books, but also from 18th and 19th century books for craftsmen, architects and builders that we have collected.

Our recent addition of home concerts was a natural expression of our love of the arts and a means to bring like minded, music loving folks together.  

All in the Family

A rare moment. All home for the holidays!

Jon and Tony setting up the scaffolding

It seems like everyone in the family has been directly involved in the renovation at one time or another. Every last one of us helped to paint even the littlest one! The big boys, Kirby, Tony and Jon, have been invaluable to James in helping construct and take down the scaffolding which has migrated around the house each year.

Julie painting trim. James scolding me for standing on the top of the ladder.

Tony carefully working on original windows

Elizabeth and Jon in 2009 priming porch floor boards.

James, Tony and little Jamie 2009 in front of work rebuilding back porch sections.

Tony has gained unique experience 'apprenticing" under James in the restoration and repair of the original windows, ropes and weights as well as re-glazing and repairing the panes.

My eldest, Katie in 2014/2015 is in Graduate School for a Master's in Public History/Historic Preservation
She is currently attempting to register the Inn in the National Historic Registry.

Katie, tearing out all of the carpet, padding and scrubbing adhesive from the wood floors

of the third floor bedrooms and landing.

James, the tireless engine that has kept this seemingly endless projects going.