After weathering the elements for more than nine months the historic Garrett-Dunn House is getting buttoned up.
Thanks to the persistent efforts of the Preservation Alliance and the Philadelphia Historical Commission, the firm JRB Historic Restoration, LLC was working on sealing the windows and doors Monday when PlanPhilly visited the site. Jeff Barr, who owns the firm, said the roof is waterproof for now and the inside of the structure is in pretty sound shape.
Masons are working on restoring the barn in the back of the property and the side porch has been shored up.
Previous work on the property, which is situated at 7048 Germantown Ave., stopped last April. Barr said very little water has penetrated the structure because the eaves protrude far enough out to offer substantial protection. Roof protection is adequately tacked on and the open window spaces are being sealed and a heavy grade plastic wrap would be used to cover lathwork that was left exposed when renovation work was halted last spring.
John Capoferri Properties has been identified as the owner/developer of the planned HedgeBank condominium project at 7048 Germantown Avenue in West Mount Airy.
The Garrett-Dunn House was designed by Thomas Ustick Walter, who is recognized as the most important American architect of the mid-1800s. He designed the dome of the U.S. Capitol and reconstructed parts of the Library of Congress. In Philadelphia, where he was born, Walter built Founders Hall at Girard College and the renowned Biddle estate, Andalusia.
