The joys and heartbreaks of restoring a 120 year old Victorian house.
At the beginning of this century I purchased a house that was built in the early 1890's - a "French Second Empire" Victorian house. It has a mansard style slate roof, a porch supported by fluted Doric columns, three floors, 6 bedrooms and three fireplaces.
One thing that attracted me to the house was that nearly all of the original architectural features were still intact: leaded stained glass windows, fireplace mantels, moldings, wood floors, main winding staircase and servant's back staircase, etc.
In February 2013 I received an award from the University City Historical Society (UCHS) for the restoration work I did on my front porch - refurbishing and even re-installing the original ballusters and railings that were languishing in the basement for years. 90% of the houses in this part of Philadelphia have been converted into apartment houses because of the great demand for student housing.
The restoration has not been cheap or fun. Restoring a Victorian house, with all of it's ornate details, is not for the feint of heart. It is like keeping a beautiful but very expensive mistress who is "high maintenance." You must be in love with your home; those of us who keep these historic properties are stricken with a disease that compels us to constantly restore and improve our homes.
Every so often, when my house is open to the general public - as it was during a UCHS walking tour of historic homes - or when I have a dinner party, the praise and compliments I get makes it seem like it was worth the effort. When I have a dinner party the 15 branch crystal chandelier dripping with over 850 crystal prisms and pendants is aglow in all it's splendor (took three men to install it and a heavy architectural beam was secured under the ceiling to support it's great weight). I get out the best crystal stemware and most elegant china and my mother's ornate antique sterling silver flatware. Candles and fresh flowers are on the table. Almost no one - except me! - throws dinner parties like that any more!
One thing that attracted me to the house was that nearly all of the original architectural features were still intact: leaded stained glass windows, fireplace mantels, moldings, wood floors, main winding staircase and servant's back staircase, etc.
In February 2013 I received an award from the University City Historical Society (UCHS) for the restoration work I did on my front porch - refurbishing and even re-installing the original ballusters and railings that were languishing in the basement for years. 90% of the houses in this part of Philadelphia have been converted into apartment houses because of the great demand for student housing.
The restoration has not been cheap or fun. Restoring a Victorian house, with all of it's ornate details, is not for the feint of heart. It is like keeping a beautiful but very expensive mistress who is "high maintenance." You must be in love with your home; those of us who keep these historic properties are stricken with a disease that compels us to constantly restore and improve our homes.
Every so often, when my house is open to the general public - as it was during a UCHS walking tour of historic homes - or when I have a dinner party, the praise and compliments I get makes it seem like it was worth the effort. When I have a dinner party the 15 branch crystal chandelier dripping with over 850 crystal prisms and pendants is aglow in all it's splendor (took three men to install it and a heavy architectural beam was secured under the ceiling to support it's great weight). I get out the best crystal stemware and most elegant china and my mother's ornate antique sterling silver flatware. Candles and fresh flowers are on the table. Almost no one - except me! - throws dinner parties like that any more!
Total Comments 4
Comments
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Now that'd be an interesting place to throw a party. Just have to go easy around the china.
Posted 07-12-2013 at 02:30 PM by malfunction
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Clark your blog is fascinating to read and I admire you for your hard work.How you describe every detail I feel I am present at the very moment. Giving a party with all its trimmings,reminds me of another time long ago
Thank you for sharing Clark and I am looking forward to read morePosted 08-26-2014 at 11:52 AM by Almrausch 
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Interesting blog. My daughter lives in a condo in Ardmore. Certainly not like your place but she is enjoying making it her home. Close to the train and Center City where she works.Posted 04-19-2015 at 08:56 PM by Rogarven
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I know Ardmore, Haverford, and Bryn Mawr well. These are some of the loveliest and most upscale suburbs of Philadelphia. "The Main Line" .... where millionaires built great estates.Quote:Originally Posted by Rogarven
Interesting blog. My daughter lives in a condo in Ardmore. Certainly not like your place but she is enjoying making it her home. Close to the train and Center City where she works.Posted 05-07-2015 at 12:08 AM by Clark Park
