Rachel Ravina / The Lansdale Reporter
ELKINS PARK — A 19th century mansion held in high esteem could soon be revived to its former glory.
Originally built for Peter A.B. Widener and his family in 1899, Elkins Park-based nonprofit the Lynnewood Hall Preservation Foundation acquired the property on June 30, some 124 years later.
The foundation, dedicated to overseeing the property, announced its plans to restore the Gilded Age-era estate. The organization has spent $9 million so far in acquisition costs.
“The Lynnewood Hall Preservation Foundation is committed to seeing Lynnewood Hall return to being an active contributor to the local community and beyond,” read a statement on the organization’s website. “Using only the highest standards of conservation craftsmanship, sustainability principles and research, the Foundation will create an important cultural site while providing educational, recreational, and work opportunities for the communities of Greater Philadelphia.”
Restoration is anticipated to be a multi-step process encompassing the 34-acre grounds, which also includes Lynnewood Hall, Lynnewood Lodge and the Gatehouse.
Phase one is budgeted to cost between $20-and-$30-million to restore the grounds and mechanical systems; phase two, a $25 million budgeted plan to tackle the formal gardens and building restorations; and the final phase would cost approximately $40 million for furnishings and other finishings, according to the foundation’s website.
An additional $1 million each year will also be required to keep the estate running. Fundraising sources are slated for crowdfunding, government partnerships and other donations.
U.S. Rep. Madeleine Dean, D-4th Dist., toured the grounds on July 7 and stressed the importance of preserving this piece of local history.
“All of us are familiar with this grand mansion and estate in our community, and it is so exciting to see the start of the restoration of the historic Lynnewood Hall,” Dean said in a statement. “Its future as a hub for arts, culture, education, and outdoor space in Cheltenham is a tremendous win for Montgomery County.”
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