Hurricane Rita 2005
Hurricane Rita 2005
Hurricane Rita. The dot represents
Orange, Texas
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When Hurricane Rita hit Orange, Texas, in September 2005, it was a Category 3 storm with devastating effects felt throughout the Southeast Texas region. Not only did it impact the city of Orange, but it also left a significant mark on the W.H. Stark House and its adjacent Carriage House.
The negative effects of Hurricane Rita were felt the hardest in the Carriage House, located adjacent to the Stark House. The hurricane caused damage to the roof of the Carriage House allowing water to leak into the second floor. Fortunately the water was trapped in several American Brilliant Period cut glass bowls. The damage to the ceiling resulted in the removal by the Stark House staff of more than 3,000 items from the damaged Carriage House over a period of 11 days.
Hurricane Rita caused significant damage to the roof of the Stark House. The Nelda C. and H.J. Lutcher Stark Foundation, which owns and operates the W.H. Stark House, had sandbags installed at doorways and window openings of the Stark House, in an effort to protect the home from rising water from the storm. The force of the hurricane’s 125 mph winds drove sand from the sandbags through crevices in the building’s doors, covering collections of porcelains, textiles and furniture housed in three north-facing rooms with layers of sand. Hyzod© panels had previously been installed on all the windows in the Stark House and the Carriage House, which protected the contents from flying debris. After the hurricane, new roofing material – Eco Star Majestic Slate -- which is made of recycled rubber in a slate design – Eco Star Majestic Slate --was installed on the Stark House due to the wind damage and loss of many of the man-made slate shingles that had been placed on the roof during the 1970s restoration.
Roof renovations after
Hurricane Rita
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Despite the negative effects of Hurricane Rita, the Stark House staff found a silver lining and took advantage of the time the House was closed for repairs after the storm by replacing the old lighting system in the Carriage House with a new fiber optic lighting system. In addition to editing and returning some of the collections after the completion of renovations, the staff was able to bring in new collection items never before displayed, such as a Tiffany desk, miniature portraits painted on porcelain, ivory or vellum, and a collection of American Art Pottery.
The Stark House and Carriage House re-opened for public tours after completion of the renovations in 2006.