Hi,
I work for the Historic District Commission in Lowell MA and I also am the
Operations Manager at the Loring-Greenough House (built in 1760) in Jamaica
Plain MA. While I have not personally had to do any fundraising for this
type of project, I've certainly attended several fundraising sessions at
conferences and raised money for other things. One main thing that has
stuck out in my mind has been outreaching to organizations you wouldn't
normally think of. Make connections for them....have a Boy Scout troop come
out and get interested, contact local historical societies, contact
genealogical organizations in the area, men's clubs, veteran's groups (if
there can be a connection made to one of the wars), have a realtor sponsor
an event at the house....and the list goes on. Hope this helps.
Jillian Adams
At 05:35 PM 12/2/2004, you wrote:
>The message below is a follow up to Mr. Manerchia's phone call earlier
>this week seeking support for his efforts to save the house and turn it
>into a museum. Apparently there are several archaeologists drooling to
>get in, but they can't do anything until they get grants. Efforts to get
>on the Historic Register have been hampered because in Pennsylvania the
>process is funneled through the county -the same people who want to put up
>a housing development. I have told him to use sheet plastic to create a
>vapor barrier in the hope that this will keep things from drying out
>further, and to only keep the heat high enough to keep any pipes from
>freezing. I will be going out to see the sight and offer help on Sunday,
>but would welcome any advice on preserving the site, finding funding, or
>drumming up support.
>
>Margaret Lyman, Interim Director
>Mütter Museum of the College of Physicians of Philadelphia
>19 South 22nd Street
>Philadelphia, PA 19103-3097
>215-563-3737 x244
>215-561-6477 (fax)
>[log in to unmask]
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Michael M [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
>Sent: Wednesday, December 01, 2004 8:14 PM
>To: Margaret Lyman
>Subject: Historic House
>
>Dear Margaret,
> My name is Michael Manerchia . My wife Pat and I recently
> purchased a house, three months ago, from her cousin Jen. This house has
> been in my wife's family for about 80 years. It is known on the Historic
> Register eligibility list as Blackbeard's Mistress' House. We bought the
> house for two reasons, the first being that the house we live in now is
> to large for two people, all our girls have grone up and have girls of
> their own. The second is that Jen told us that the local town wanted to
> buy the house and tear it down for new homes. We couldn't let this
> happen so even knowing the house needed work we decided to buy it.
> Jen let us start cleaning before we went to
> settlement. All my wife wanted was a new kitchen so I started gutting
> the old one out. Much to my suprise I fell through the kitchen floor,
> there was no crawl space and the dirt was half way up the side of the
> beams. I started looking through the dirt and found many pieces of
> plates. They looked old so I then knew there had to be something to the
> legends. I know a local historian so I went and got him. He came to our
> house about an hour later with two other men, who when after a brief look
> asked to poke a hole in the wall. I said ok and the next thing I know I
> was buying a plank house from the late 17th century.
> After settlement we started opening up everything and much
> to our amasement the house is still intact. We have since planned to make
> the house a museum and build a house next to this one. The reason I am
> writing is to get support from local people, business and museums. We
> fear the town fathers still want us gone. Many important people have
> come to see the house and they all recomended we start a non-profit
> organization, so we did, The Marcus Hook Plank Log Cabin
> Association. West Chester University's Archeological Department
> professor, Dr Heather Wholey, taught us how to grid and screen, and so
> far from the kitchen floor alone my wife, 3year old granddaughter, sister
> and I have discoverd over 1000 artifacts including hundreds of bones
> John Milner, The Netherland Barn Museum Staff, Bernie
> Herman, PA Historic Museum staff people, and the Delaware County Historic
> Commission, to name a few, have been here. Bernie H even found the mark
> of the British Crown on one of the walls. He says this is a pre 1720
> home. We were also told this is the most significant house in PA at this
> time.
> Yes we need money for preservation. Since we took all
> the drywall down the house is starting to dry out. And when I talk to
> Conservaters they must think I'm nuts when I tell them the story and they
> never call back. Most of all we need letters of support and people to
> come see this amazing home to enjoy its rough beauty. Please call me for
> a visit and let all your associets know as well. We still have to try and
> get on the National Register.
>
>
>Thanks For Your Time
> Michael
> Manerchia
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