Disaster Recovery for Bucks Co. Acad. of Fencing

Dear Past, Present, and Future members and fans of the Bucks County Academy of Fencing,

For the second time in the past decade, the BCAF Lambertville facility has been demolished by a flash flood. During Hurricane Ida, floodwaters burst through the front entrance, flowed down the stairs, and blew out a wall next to the front door. More than a foot of water poured in, carrying with it ankle deep mud and debris. The force of the storm water was so powerful that it heaved enormous concrete slabs that made up the floor of the back room, and, needless to say, it destroyed our beautiful state-of-the-art wooden fencing floor. As you can see in the pictures, damage to the structure and its contents was devastating.

While we have managed to secure a beautiful temporary space for BCAF Lambertville, we are eager to recreate BCAF’s “home” in the Laceworks Building that so many have come to love as a place in which to learn, exercise, compete, and gather.

Many of you have asked if you can help, for which we are deeply grateful. Any donation amount will help us recover as quickly as possible. Our landlord’s insurance will cover rebuilding the floor and interior structures -- but none of the contents lost to the flood are covered. While the floors and walls are being restored, a fund will be set up to replace or refurbish…

• gear and equipment for students and coaches,

• furnishings,

• spectator lounge amenities,

• workshop and maintenance equipment,

• back-office equipment and supplies,

• artwork,

• and so much more.

We are touched and uplifted by our community’s tremendous outpouring of support, especially when so many are managing through their own post-storm hardships. The best way for us to express how much it means to us is to welcome back to BCAF Lambertville our students, their families, and coaches as soon as possible!

And in case you are wondering……

After the first flood disaster 10 years ago, a concerted effort was made to find a new location close enough to the New Hope/Lambertville area so as not to lose students from one side of the river or the other. Nothing remotely suitable with the floor space and accessibility was available, and after generous new terms were offered by the landlord, the BCAF returned to its current location.

This time around the money is not available to capitalize a new location, but the landlord’s insurance is covering all the damage to the building and the fencing floor reconstruction, so re-opening in the same beautiful location will be a seamless process.

With gratitude,

Maestro Mark Holbrow and Lisa Martini, Business Manager