Blake Rayne took his proposal for a new home on Main Street to the Berlin Historic Commission. The commission members asked him to make some changes to the façade to make it more in keeping with the historic nature of the community. Courtesy David Quillin Architecture.

By Cindy Hoffman, Staff Writer

(Oct. 12, 2023) Blake Rayne and builder Nate Reister of Burley Building Company presented preliminary drawings of a new home Rayne wants to have built on South Main Street to Berlin’s Historic District Commission last Wednesday. A decision will be made on or before the next meeting of the commission on Nov. 1.

Rayne is an artist and educator. He was a professor at Columbia University and plans to make Berlin his home now that he is no longer teaching. He grew up in Salisbury and his father’s family lived in Berlin.

“I’ve been trying to move to Berlin for a while now,” Rayne said.

The designs show a multi-building plan with the main house a colonial design.

Rayne said the design of the main house is unusual inside, in that there will be no bedrooms but will have a kitchen and second-floor library.

Two other buildings will create a U-shaped private space in the backyard. The one on the right will be the master bedroom, which will be cedar shake and the other, which Rayne called a “dog trot” will be made of corrugated metal and will house two sleeping areas.

The main house will be made of traditional three-coat plaster, similar to other houses in the area. Reister said it will be white or grayish in color.

Another large building to the back of the lot will be Rayne’s studio, where he plans to store and make his exhibits. Reister said this building is a pole barn that will be sizable but less visible to the street.

Reister told the commissions that the renderings of the buildings they were viewing are basic, which makes it difficult to get a detailed point of view.

Commission members suggested the house could use some softening, with a chimney instead of the pipe for the fireplace, white-framed windows and more classic columns.

“Make it fit better into the Main Street of Berlin,” Commissioner Laura Bunting said.

“It sounds like you are really working to make it blend in with the neighborhood. I would like to see the details when you have them,” Commissioner John Holloway said.

Reister told the commissioners he bought a mill a year ago and trees that are felled on the site will be used to create the front porch and other interior work.

  The commission members were generally positive about the proposal, but asked Rayne to send them updated drawings based on their recommendations.