This is the fifteenth year that a homeowner in Ridley Park has been selected by judges of both the Historic Society and the H.A.R.B. to be a recipient of the Historic Preservation Award. The award was first created by the Historic Commission as a way to recognize a homeowner who has gone that extra mile to preserve his home and keep it accurate for its style and age and since that time we have selected some truly terrific examples.

I do have to admit that selecting houses for this award has become a daunting task over the last few years for the selection committee.  More and more modern materials are offered at not only the Big Box stores but also by local contractors as the answer to any old house problem. It would seem that a pretty straight forward approach to home repair is becoming obsolete. Since vinyl or aluminum siding is a definite no-no when restoring a historic property, someone concerned with preservation may have to look harder than just a fast trip to their local hardware store to make repairs.

So it's especially encouraging to announce this year's recipient, Lynn and Jeffrey Craig of 310 Park Street. These homeowners have not tried to change the look of their home, but rather have embraced the style and all improvements have been under roof.
This eclectic Tudor Revival is constructed of Pennsylvania mica schist, a stone that may have been quarried locally in Media, and is prevalent in many homes and public buildings in this area. It was built by Mr. Caffey in 1948 on the block that was previously occupied by the victory garden during WWII. Since there was a natural stream running through the lot, the original owner chose to build the house on a heated concrete slab, rather than excavate to build a full basement.

The house was purchased by the present owners in 1983, after parts of it were destroyed by fire. The family worked for 8 months to restore it before they were able to move in. The story goes that they were able to stand in the study and look up at the stars before the renovation began.

Some interior features of the house were saved, such as the curved staircase in the front foyer, the fireplace in the living room, and the corner cabinet in the dining room.
Recently, the second floor was renovated to create a master bedroom suite, by rearranging a few walls and enlarging the full bath, and turning a bedroom into a walk-in closet.  The maid's bedroom and bath over the garage were enlarged by raising the roof on the back of the house (thereby preserving the look of the steep roof on the front of the house).

The bronze oval plaque will be presented to Lynn and Jeff on September 12th at 2:30 pm, during the Town Fair.  Come and join us in congratulating them.