Read House & Gardens Receives Federal Grant of $400,000
Save America's Treasures
NEW CASTLE, DE, July 2, 2008. The Read House & Gardens, part of the Delaware Historical Society, has been awarded a prestigious federal grant for essential preservation work. The Read House & Gardens, located in historic New Castle, will receive $400,000 from Save America's Treasures. This highly competitive program is managed by the National Park Service and the National Trust for Historic Preservation for significant "bricks and mortar" work or collections care. Only properties deemed to have national significance are considered for grants. The Read House & Gardens is only the fourth project in Delaware to be awarded a Save America's Treasures grant.
The house, completed in 1803 by George Read II, son of one of Delaware's signers of the Declaration of Independence, is owned and operated by the Delaware Historical Society as a historic house museum, and is a contributing structure to the New Castle National Historic Landmark District. It is an outstanding example of Georgian-Federal transitional architecture, complemented by one of the oldest ornamental gardens in the Delaware Valley. It was the largest and most elaborate home in Delaware at the time of its construction-over 14,000 square feet. The interior and exterior of the home retain a remarkably high degree of integrity, including floor plan, ornamental woodwork, decorative plaster, and finishes. The grounds retain the 1847 garden design and hold significant archaeological features from the Native American, Dutch, and colonial periods. The house and gardens are open to the public year round and host 20,000 visitors annually, including over 13,000 school children.
The Save America's Treasures grant is part of a $1.8 million exterior restoration project for the house. Work will include roof repairs, masonry restoration, exterior wood work repair, painting, and waterproofing. Save America's Treasures grants are matching grant that require the recipient to raise at least an equal amount of funds from the community. Efforts are underway to secure the matching funds so that work may begin as soon as possible.
The Historical Society of Delaware is the statewide, non-profit organization dedicated to the exploration, preservation, and appreciation of Delaware history, heritage, and culture for the benefit of the public.
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