2010 Oil Heritage Region

Historic' Preservation Awards

7:00 p.m.
Monday - May 24, 2010
Perry Street Station
409 South Perry Street, Titusville

Historic Preservation Awards are sponsored by:

* Crawford County Historical Society * Oil Region Alliance *
* TitusvilleHistorical Society * Titusville Renaissance, Inc. *
* Venango County Historical Society *

O~u~girn2rt~ce
217 Elm Street, Oil City, PA 16301
814-677-3152
 And the Winners Are -
St. Michael the Archangel Church
For Preservation Stewardship
Msgr. Jan Olowin, Pastor

Bromley's Hillhurst Bed & Breakfast

For Reconstruction
Keith & Beth Bromley, owners

Keith & Beth Bromley - Residence

For Enhancement
Keith & Beth Bromley, owners

Vantage Health Care - Franklin Facility

For Enhancement
Thomas B. Surman, Vice President

The Haskell Family for the W. H. Abbott House

For Preservation Stewardship
Charlotte Haskell-Bickford, owner/Jim Kuhn, caretaker

About the Speaker -

Annette L. Lynch is a Meadville native and a
resident of Crawford County. She received a
Bachelor of Arts in English from Allegheny College,
and a Master of Arts in American Literature from
Edinboro University. She is a local historian, and
a member of the Board of Directors of the Crawford
County Historical Society. She was a charter
member of the Crawford County Genealogical Society
and is a long-time editor of their magazine, Crawford
County Genealogy. She abstracted the Crawford
County Naturalization Applications, 1800-1906,
which was published in 2003, and has specialized in
tracing the French families of Crawford County.
 Masters of Ceremonies
William B. Moore and Joshua Sherretts
7:00 p.m. - Social Time
Welcome
Joshua Sherretts
Crawford County Historical Society

Oil Region National Heritage Area Historic

House Plaque Program
Presented by Kim Harris, ORA Project Manager

Program
"The Oil Region Demi monde"
By Annette Lynch, Crawford Co. Historical Society

Presentation of Historic Preservation Awards

St. Michael the Archangel Church
809 Chestnut Street, Emlenton
Presented by Marilyn Black, Oil Region Alliance
Bromley's Hillhurst Bed & Breakfast
701 North Perry Street, Titusville
Presented by Mike Henderson, Oil Region Alliance
Keith & Beth Bromley - Residence
518 North Perry Street, Titusville
Presented by Lois Parsons, Titusville Historical Society
Vantage Health Care - Franklin Facility
1283 Liberty Street, Franklin
Presented by Carolee Michener, Venango County
Historical Society
The Haskell Family for the W. H. Abbott House
215 West Main Street, Titusville
Presented by William Moore, Crawford County
Historical Society

Closing Remarks
Marilyn Black, Oil Region Alliance
St. Michael the Archangel Parish
809 Chestnut Street, Emlenton, PA
This Roman Catholic church was constructed in
1871 and contains a one-floor sanctuary, balcony
_____
- along the east wall, a central bell tower topped
by a cross, and support offices at the western
end_ The first rectory was constructed in 1872.
The bungalow that now serves as a rectory was
constructed in 1933, using designs prepared by
Father Aloysius During. That same year, the
View - "Before" front entrance and porch to the church building
were replaced with Corinthian columns, steps
leading up from a cement court, and doors of thick oak trimmed
in hand wrought iron. A new cupola and cross were also in-
stalled. The sanctuary interior was remodeled in.a baroque
style, to match the stained glass windows. A mural painting by
Isabel Hamilton (Bowden), a member of the congregation, was
added over the sanctuary. It depicts the Nativity on the left of
the altar and the Sermon on the Mount on the right.
In 1941-42, a new confessional and
baptistery were built and in 1949 a
new organ was dedicated. Lighting in
the sanctuary was updated periodi-
cally, from candles to oil lamps to gas
lights to electrical service.
Workers excavated beneath the
church in 1957 to construct a social
hall for parish activities and installed a complete kitchen and
restroom facilities.
In 1969 the church sanctuary was remodeled using solid oak
altars, new oak paneling and carpeting. Stained glass windows
were repaired in 1970 and in 1971 tiling was added to the Social
Hall. The parish's bell was put back into active use for the
church's 100th anniversary.
The church building and rectory re-
mained basically unchanged from 1971
through July, 2007, when a Building
Committee was formed. The firm of
Weber, Murphy & Fox was hired and
David ThaI was named Architect with
Kim Jeffreys as Project Manager.
Mural, before cleaning
St. Michael the Archangel Parish
809 Chestnut Street, Emlenton, PA
Monsignor Jan Olowin was named pastor in
August, 2008. The parish decided to imple-
ment most of the architect's recommenda-
tions, while using funds already in place.
Construction began in September, 2009.
The tower and cross on top were gilded and
the exterior of the church was painted. A
ramp that had been rough was replaced with
" one which is now fully ADA-compliant and
Pastor Jan Olowin electric heating was installed beneath the
cement for improved winter safety.
Indoors, the unique mural archway
was cleaned and restored, as were the
stained glass windows. Oak wainscot-
ing was installed on the outer walls. In
the social hall, the classrooms and hall
were repainted. New plumbing was
installed in the kitchen and the rest-
i_
rooms were made ADA-accessible.
Mural, after cleaning
Parishioners can once again see the
glowing halos for the holy family and rich colors in the clothing
of all the people in the church's mural. The restored balcony is
now completely flat, even and safe for the choir and musicians.
The new lighting is warmer and more natural, making the sanc-
tuary more inviting overall. The newly gilded dome and cross
are strikingly beautiful, especially at sunset. More families
have scheduled weddings and baptisms at St. Michael's, and the
parish is planning to install a meditation garden in the spring.
The transformation of St. Michael's Church
would not have been possible without the
tireless efforts of the Building Committee
which consisted of Nick Cirell, Matt King,
~/~ Ron and Donna Louise, Ken Maleski,
Lowell Snyder and Jack Whitehill. They
were assisted by the parish' informal histo-
rian - Mrs. Anne Weiss, along with George
Zacher!, Connie Blauser, Amy and Ray
_.,~~~... - Kaufman, Lou Berteotti, Jerome Gressley
u· -"'~;;;f'~t-" - - . and the late Colleen Gressley, along with a
vLew - .L"1.er
host of others.
Bromley's Hillhurst Bed & Breakfast
701 North Perry Street, Titusville, PA
Hillhurst is the original name given to
this home that was built in 1908 by John
Emerson, one of three sons of E.O. Emer-
son, a financier. It features a grande
staircase in the entry and a fireplace in
each room. Two of the fireplaces are exact
replicas of fireplaces in Mount Vernon and
Monticello.
The house was a private residence until 1951,
when it was purchased by the Erie Presbytery.
They operated it as the Titusville Presbyterian
Home until 2009, when it closed.
Keith and Beth Bromley
purchased the home in Feb-
..c- ruary, 2009, and took pos-
session on June 4. Their .1
immediate goal was to have Removing a wall
the house ready as a fully-
.••functioning bed and breakfast by mid-August,
so that it could be open for guests during the
Oil 150 celebration.
A grand opening was held on August 19, 2009,
Pocket doors to celebrate the completion of Phase I of the
Hillhurst rehabilitation, including:
• Removal of six interior walls which were not part of the origi-
nal floor plan, returning all of the rooms to their original size
• The discovery and restoration of four sets of pocket doors
• Installation of a replica copper ceiling in the butler's pantry
• Plaster repair throughout the house
• Repainting of several rooms
• Opening of the library fireplace, returning it to service
• Restoration of floors that were modified by non-original walls
• Repair and replacement of numerous plumbing fixtures,
while maintaining a Victorian look and feel
• Electrical upgrades as needed
In the library, original bookcases line the walls and quarter-sawn
oak, also original, is on the ceiling.
A grand staircase features spindles that are unique in that every
third one is different from the previous two.
Bromley's Hillhurst Bed & Breakfast
701 North Perry Street, Titusville, PA
Phase II of the Hillhurst rehabilitation
prepared the third floor ballroom for
adaptive reuse, and began in November
of 2009. It was completed by the first of
January, 2010.
The third floor ballroom has cabinetry
View from the 3rd floor designed to hold linens and lace.
A large half-circle window in the ballroom provides much needed
ventilation as well as a walk-out to the roof.
Phase II work included:
• Remodeling and painting
• Complete ceiling replacement
• Installation of HVAC
• Floor repairs
• Electrical upgrades and rewiring as
needed
• Installation of new lighting
With the rehabilitation of the third floor complete, the ballroom
has a new purpose, and a new tenant. The Hirts Training Center
now occupies the space. It is owned by John Cornell, a Tank and
Terminal Specialist. The center provides training relating to
above ground storage tanks constructed of plastic, fiberglass and
steel. Clients come from around the world and are encouraged to
lodge at Hillhurst while attending the training.
The Hillhurst property also includes servants quarters which
now serve as a private apartment occupied by an on-site manager
for Hillhurst Bed and Breakfast.
Owners Keith and Beth Bromley are gracious hosts whose motto
is "Arrive as guests, depart as friends."
Keith & Beth Bromley
518 North Perry Street, Titusville, PA
The house at 518 North Perry Street
was built in 1870 by hardware mer-
chant Delos O. Wickham. The archi-
tect of record was Hiram Smith (ca.
1814-after 1880), who was responsi-
ble for the design of some of Titus-
~ ville's grandest houses, including the
"Before" view of the home Bryan and Johnson mansions on
East Main Street. In 1885 the Wick-
hams moved to Washington, D.C. and sold their home to Kate
Nes Warner for $2,500. She and her husband nearly doubled
the size of the house by adding a wing and raising the roof to
include a third story.
Keith & Beth Bromley purchased the home in 2007 to be their
personal residence. They felt that the home was quite sound,
considering that it was built in 1870. The porches were another
matter. They were in desperate need of repair due to water
damage through the years. Since both Keith and Beth feel that
porches complete the home, the long process of rebuilding the
porches on both the first and second levels was soon started.
The Bromleys completely rebuilt the infrastructure from the
ground up, which involved removing the fascia and replacing
the support beams. The columns had to be rebuilt consolidating
the dried-out parts as progress continued. This procedure petri-
fies the wood and makes it strong once again.
When the first floor porch was finished, the same procedure was
begun on the second level. The Yankee gutter system was then
rebuilt so that it did not destroy their efforts. Once the first and
second floor structure and drain systems were rebuilt, a rubber
roof was installed. All of the fascia boards and dental moldings
were replaced and painting completed the job.
Vantage Health Care - Franklin Facility
1283 Liberty Street, Franklin, PA
The Exchange Bank & Trust Co. was
two years old when it built a 3-story
brick building on the southeast corner
of Liberty and Thirteenth Streets in
Franklin in 1873. This site served the
bank well until 1923, when it acquired
the wooden structure next door on
Liberty Street, a site referred to as the
"Sugar Bowl."
The bank tore down the wooden struc-
ture to make way for a stone structure
at the same site. The brick building
was then razed and a second, matching
stone structure was added.
The building was dedicated on April
14, 1925, as the new home of the Detailed view of Vantage
Exchange Bank and Trust Company.
The bank was located there until 1979 when it moved to a new
location on Thirteenth Street and the corner landmark was sold
to the County of Venango. They occupied the building until 2008.
A restaurant occupied the two-story brick building adjacent to
the bank until the 1970's when it was purchased by the bank.
Vantage Health Care purchased both buildings and extensively
remodeled them to continue their work - to support and provide
quality health care services. Work performed included:
• New roofing surfaces installed
• Replacement of all tin overhangs with copper
• Demolish & rebuilding of first floor of the adjoining building
• Built four sleep labs on the first floor of adjoining building
• Updated lobby and stairwells
• Installed new boiler serving both buildings
The Haskell Family - W.H. Abbott House
215 West Main Street, Titusville, PA
Built in 1870 by oil producer and refiner
. William H. Abbott, the residence cost
$40,000 to build. The original structure
was two-story, and consisted of a wooden
frame square box with a low-pitched roof
and cupola. The architect was Abbott's
son-in-law, Henry Wrigley.
W. H. Abbott House Abbott suffered a series of both personal
and financial setbacks and the home was
sold at Sheriffs Sale in 1874 for $10,600 to Nathaniel Wheeler,
the brother ofW.H. Abbott's first wife. Wheeler allowed Abbott
to remain in the home for the rest of his life.
Mter Abbott's death, the Wheeler heirs sold the house in 1903
to Robert McKelvy. He extensively remodeled the home to a
more classical style. The McKelvys relocated to New York City
and in 1928, sold the property to Harry H. Haskell, who again
updated the house.
The house passed to Haskell's son, John
S. Haskell, and his wife, Charlotte McKin-
t::=:= ney, who occupied it the rest of their lives.
:=
== John passed away in 1983 and his wife in
1986. Their son H.H. "Jay" Haskell, a
-=== state legislator, died in 1990, and their
- daughter Charlotte Bickford became the
Molding at roof of porch owner of the family home, and its appre-
ciative custodian.
Even though daughter Charlotte moved to Florida in the mid
1960's, she has maintained the historical integrity of the home
with the help of local resident Jim Kuhn. Jim's father, George,
had maintained the home from the time of his retirement as
Titusville Chief of Police in 1983 until 2002.
Many of the rooms have a fireplace and a buzzer to summon the
servants. A servant's quarters are on the
second floor and include three small bed-
rooms and a very small bathroom. The
home's wood siding and moldings, curved-
glass windows and steel roof have been
preserved through the years, as has the
original stone sidewalk. A brick wall en-
closes most of the back yard, providing
privacy for the home's occupants. Side view-Abbott House
About the Awards ...
• Structures in the Oil Heritage Region are eligible.
This includes all of Venango County, the City of
Titusville, the Borough of Hydetown, and Oil Creek
Township in Crawford County.
• Eligible structures include commercial, residential,
industrial, public, religious or other properties.
• Structures must be at least 50 years old. They need
not qualify for "National Register" listing, but must
be of recognized historical or architectural value.
• Interior work in public buildings and/or exterior
work is eligible.

• Construction or enhancement projects must have

been completed in the last five years to be eligible.
• Once a project has received a Historic Preservation
Award, it is not eligible to receive another award for
five years.

The following persons represented the Sponsors

and served as judges for this year's awards:
William B. Moore and Joshua Sherretts
Representing the Crawford County Historical Society
Donna Gaston and Ron Gustafson
Representing the Oil Region Alliance
Lois Parsons
Representing the Titusville Historical Society
Susan Beates
Representing Titusville Renaissance, Inc.
Rainy Linn
Representing the Venango County Historical Society
The Oil Heritage Region Historic Preservation
Awards were created in 1997 to:
• Recognize projects that represent the appropriate
standards of preservation, restoration, and
rehabilitation.

• Acknowledge individuals and groups for

initiatives, services or commitment to
preservation values.

• Create an advocacy for historic preservation

through a greater public awareness of the built
environment.
• Enhance a region-wide preservation ethic in both
the public and private sectors.

Definitions of Eligible Projects

Preservation: Maintaining an existing historic
property through maintenance or repair of original
materials and features, when possible, rather than
replacement or new construction.

Restoration: Returning a property to its original

appearance at a particular period of time by repair,
removal of inappropriate features, and
reconstruction.

Rehabilitation: Providing an appropriate use for a

property through repair, alterations, and additions,
while preserving features of historical value.

Nomination forms for 2011 Oil Heritage Region

Historic Preservation Awards will be
available in January, 2011.