Preserving the Building

OUR TRACK RECORD OF PRESERVATION

For more than a century, since 1902 the women of Sedgeley Club have been responsible for preserving the Sedgeley Club Building. Preservation of the building has remained at the pinnacle of our priorities for over a century.

Looking back over the last decade or so, this is our record of major preservation projects. Countless other projects – from maintaining the gardens to painting and plumbing have been completed every year by our own Sedgeley Club members.

2008: Ensure the foundation is stable, prevent storm water invasion during major flood events

Due to rare flooding events along the river, many of the historic boathouses noticed sinking foundations and decaying footers – creating stability problems and major safety concerns. In 2008 Sedgeley Club’s Board approved a plan to fill in small pockets of lost soil under the building and outside between the seawall and the basement. At a cost of $17,000, the building was stabilized.

2009: Replace defective windows on back porch

When the river side porch was enclosed in 1959 we added ten large windows. Fifty years of use and exposure to the elements caused these windows to become loose and fragile. In late 2009 we replaced them with architecturally appropriate windows that were safe, energy efficient and approved by the Historical Commission. Our cost was just under $18,000.

2009: Paint the house on the riverside

During the window renovations, severely rotted wooden trim was discovered throughout the riverside exterior. We replaced the rotted trim and then painted the river side exterior of the building before the winter set in. Cost $10,700.

2009: A Road Map

Sedgeley Club’s President commissioned a professional home inspection in May of 2009.  The inspection served as a roadmap – telling us what repairs were needed, the approximate cost of each repair and the timeframe in which to complete them. The inspection revealed a few problems posing immediate danger to the building and the people inside. On the top of the list was replacing the original knob and tube electrical wiring from 1910.

2010: Replace active knob and tube wiring

Still in use behind our plaster walls, and connected to modern wiring which carried a higher load of electricity, the old knob and tube wiring posed a fire hazard throughout the building. At a cost of $15,595, the rewiring project was completed in early 2010.

2010: Insulation of the attic and second floor

After the knob and tube wiring was disconnected we were able to insulate the building. The cost was $3,961. Our Treasurer was pleased to report that over the next two winters we saved more than the cost of the insulation, thanks to reduced heating bills.

2011: Quiet times

During the year of 2011, we planned our next projects.

2012: Our front stairs

Another priority from the home inspection report was ready to be tackled over the summer of 2012. At the front entrance to the club house, the wooden stairs and landing had soft floorboards and loose railings. The main beams and posts supporting the structure underneath were beginning to rot.  

Approved by the Historical Commission we replaced the entrance matching the original plans from Arthur Brockie’s drawings of 1902. The cost of the project was $10,800 from concept to completion. Volunteers from Sedgeley Club painted the stairs and landing to match the rest of the house.

Friends of Historic Sedgeley is Created

Sedgeley Club’s Board of Governors set out to form a non-profit corporation dedicated to preserving the historic building and lighthouse, both national historic landmarks. Friends of Historic Sedgeley was created in 2012. FHS represents a new era of sustainability for Sedgeley Club and opens new possibilities for raising tax deductible funds to preserve it.

2014: Kitchens

Early in 2014 FHS and Sedgeley Club shared in funding two projects. The first was replacing the sink, plumbing and cabinetry in the basement kitchen and making similar improvements to the 1st floor kitchen. Total cost for both projects came to $7,600.  

2016: New Roof, Gutters and Dormer Siding

FHS also restored the exterior wood trim to its original condition. Removing a century of paint – performed by Old Village Master Painters –  revealed the beautiful 1902 wood trim handcrafted for the boathouse. Finally, FHS hired WMG Historic Restoration to restore eight original windows (including original glass) to their pristine 1902 condition.

2018: A Wrap-Up Year for the Exterior

2019: Replacing the Boiler

Working as a team with generous donors, FHS was able to repair two chimneys and replace the old oil tank and boiler with a new energy efficient natural gas-powered boiler. In late 2019, FHS replaced the rubber roof surrounding the lighthouse tower. 

2020: Pandemic and Projects

While the world began to cope with the SARS Covid-19 Pandemic, we used this quiet time to raise funds and update the Main Dining Room and entry way.  While closed to the public and to members, FHS completed historically accurate interior renovations to the building, and hoped for a heathy future. 

2021: A Partnership with the Commonwealth

Thanks to a matching grant called the Keystone Historic Preservation Grant from the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission (PHMC) FHS completed a critical structural repair project. One section of the building was sagging in the same location from the basement to attic. With help from PHMC, FHS hired a crew to dig beneath the basement floor, and uncover the foundation walls and footers. Here a section of foundation wall had settled lower over time and caused the structure above it to be pulled downward. The settled wall was repaired and fortified, then covered up again. By the fall of 2021, the entire structure was renewed; made safe and strong again. Friends of Historic Sedgeley is immensely grateful to the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission for making these critical repairs possible. Unfortunately in September of 2021 Hurricane Ida brought almost four feet of flood water into Sedgeley Club’s basement.  The floodwater quickly receded but destroyed the building’s hot water heater which FHS was able to replace.   

2022

Early in the year, FHS provided much needed funds to renovate a second floor bathroom. Overall, total expenses came to $18,000. FHS started a new fundraising project, restoring and reinforcing the enclosed sunporch overlooking the river.  

2023

In the fall, thanks to a matching gift challenge, FHS received enough donations to fully renovate the sunporch.  Overlooking the river, Sedgeley Club’s sunporch is a beloved gathering place for members and visitors. Thanks to great teamwork and support, the renovations secured the sunporch’s roof, insulation and flooring while making it more enjoyable for everyone. 

2024

In spring of 2024, FHS welcomed a generous donation funding window treatments for the sunporch and the main dining room. FHS engineers inspected the seawall for structural issues and found deterioration of the masonry and slight movement of the wall in general.

A May 30th planned lighthouse inspection performed by ICC Commonwealth revealed a long list of specialty repairs needed for Sedgeley Club’s historic lighthouse. Due to the trade and professional specialties needed and costs involved, FHS has a large scale fundraising plan underway. 

On a sunny and busy Love Your Lighthouse Day, August 3rd 2024, Sedgeley Club and FHS volunteers hosted an open house for the public.  Over 250 visitors enjoyed tours of the boathouse and lighthouse.

From preservation plans to permits to raising funds, FHS remains dedicated to preserving this treasured National Historic Landmark and iconic symbol of Philadelphia.