Restore 1698 Welsh Quaker Home for the Community

In 2018 I used most of my retirement fund to buy a historic but abandoned and  derelict house from the bank. The house, which I call Harford Hall,  was built in three stages. The oldest wing of the house dates from 1689 during the governorship of William Penn. The second addition dates from c. 1730 and the third from about 1740. The builder of the house was one of Penn's Welsh Quaker settlers who hoped to create a Welsh barony in their new township named for their home in Wales, "Haverford." In the past two years I have used such funds as remained from my retirement to replace the roof, add heating and plumbing and to make the structure livable.

 

While I will be living in the two later wings of the house, the original 1698 house will be open to the public. This wing still has its original fireplace, beamed ceilings that still show the bark on the beams, mortice and tenon with peg construction, original hand cut nails, random width oak and pine floors, log sleepers and an inside well. The 1698 house stands untouched as a historic example of one of the oldest of Penn's Welsh Quaker homes. 

 

I hold a Ph.D. with a background in history and I know the importance of historic preservation. Thus, I would like to raise the funds to hire a professional historic restorer so that no damage is done to this oldest wing of the house. Once completed this wing will be open to students, historians and all who cherish our heritage. There will be no charge. The home belongs to all. 

 

The house has six windows, four in front and two in back, which need to be restored to the correct 9 pane over 9pane  colonial window.

6 Restoration windows run at about  $1,000 each.                                       $6,000

The fireplace needs to be opened and brought to fire standards.

Chimney Lining runs about                                                                                          $4,000  

The floors and ceilings need to be refinished.  

The walls need plaster and white wash.                                                                $5,000

                                                                                                                                                ______________

 

I estimate the overall cost to be                                                                               $15,000.