SPEAKER’S HOUSE RECEIVED STATE GRANT FOR MASONRY RESTORATION

Trappe, PA - Through the assistance of former State Representative Raymond Bunt, Jr., The Speaker’s House was awarded a $15,000 grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development to help fund restoration work on the house. The grant will be used to remove the stucco from the façade of the building, which was applied sometime after 1925, and repair and repoint the masonry. The pent roofs, constructed by Ursinus College when the house was being remodeled for a dormitory, will also be removed.

Underneath the stucco, the building’s original stone façade remains (see photo). The stone was cut into rectangular blocks known as “ashlar” and pointed with a decorative raised ribbon pointing. The choice of ashlar, much more expensive than rubble fieldstone, for the house’s primary elevation was made by the house’s first owners, John and Silence Schrack, to signal their affluence and prominence to passersby. Other houses in the region that have similar façade treatments include the Henry Muhlenberg House in Trappe and Peter Wentz Farmstead in Worcester.

This spring we will begin carefully removing the stucco so as not to damage the historic masonry and pointing beneath. Small sections of stucco on other walls may be removed as well to continue with the study of the building’s 18th century construction and appearance. When the stucco is removed, visitors will be able to see the beautiful historic masonry once more. Next spring we will repoint the masonry during a hands-on workshop in which volunteers can participate.