Whitemarsh Foundation Makes Plans To Restore Historic Farmhouse

Whitemarsh Foundation for Patch

Harth Builders is pleased to announce that they have been selected by the Whitemarsh Foundation to renovate its historic farmhouse located at 548 Flourtown Road. Construction planning has already commenced. The anticipated project completion date is late January 2016.

According to Kim Sheppard, President of the Whitemarsh Foundation, Harth Builders was selected as the contractor for the renovation because of their attention to detail and interest in preserving the historical integrity of the building. “We selected Harth Builders because they clearly understood the historical significance of the home and were committed to ensuring that the character of the renovations will be in keeping with the building’s original architectural design.”

Located on the Angus Tract of Erdenheim Farm in Whitemarsh Township, the farmhouse was constructed between 1855 and 1860. At 4000 square feet, it is a generously appointed residence that originally served as the estate home for one of the owners of the farm.

Although it has recently fallen into a state of disrepair, the building remains structurally sound and features exquisite architectural detail from that period. Faced with the decision to either raze the property or renovate, the Whitemarsh Foundation reached out to the community for support with the “Open the Door” capital campaign. The total campaign goal is $1.1 million with approximately $800,000 earmarked for the renovations.

The balance of the funds will be placed in an endowment to support farmhouse operations and educational outreach. Fundraising efforts have been successful, with more than half of the funds committed to date, enabling Sheppard to proceed with renovations.

According to Gregory Harth, President of Harth Builders, this project is an exciting challenge for his design-build remodeling firm. “We were honored to be selected to perform this work. This project clearly presents some unique design challenges. The historical character of the building needs to be preserved, yet significant changes need to be made to modernize and bring the building up to code. We are looking forward to rehabilitating the property to return it to its former grandeur, while making it a functional and accessible workspace for use by the foundation as well as other community organizations.”

Harth Builders serves the residential and light commercial remodeling needs of homeowners and businesses across the Greater Philadelphia region. Their design-build team has received numerous local, regional, and national awards including Best of Houzz 2015 honors, the Chrysalis award, eight Guild Quality GuildMaster awards, as well as National Contractor of the Year awards. With a talented team comprised of architects, engineers, interior designers, and carpenters, Harth Builders helps clients bring concept to reality while being mindful of their construction budgets.