Historic Properties Fund

Fairmount Park Conservancy

Image title

John Bartram's House

Historic Properties Fund

  • The Historic Properties Fund was created in 2002 with a 5-year lead gift from the Dorrance H. Hamilton Charitable Trust.  

  • The fund is administered in partnership with the Fairmount Park Historic Preservation Trust and all funds are matched.  Grant requests are written by the Historic Preservation Trust.  Depending upon the work that is needed, the Trust staff directly performs or manages the work.  

  • The fund provides support for necessary and emergency repairs for the Park’s 206 historic properties and encourages the organizations that steward these properties to leverage additional funding for the properties.  Restoration and preservation of these properties impacts the historic legacy of Fairmount Park.

  • Since 2002, twenty-three restoration projects have been undertaken and $235,000 in additional funds has been leveraged.    

  • Properties that have benefited from this fund include, Chamounix Mansion, Lemon Hill Mansion, the Ohio House, Mount Pleasant, John Bartram House, Valley Green Inn and Historic Rittenhouse Town.  The fund is a model in collaborative problem solving and has dramatically increased enthusiasm for preservation. 

  • Historic house needs are determined by threat level: a composite rating based on condition and use potential.   Houses are selected based on prioritized needs of the buildings and the probability of winning a grant award.

 

Current funding priorities include:

  • High: Lilacs House (significant structural stabilization)
  • Moderate: Sweetbriar Mansion, Chamounix Mansion Complex, Ormiston, Laurel Hill Mansion, Lemon Hill Mansion, Strawberry Mansion
  • Low: Belmont Mansion & Cottage Complex, Cedar Grove Mansion, Mount Pleasant