Bartow-Pell’s Preservation of its Orangerie Doors
Bartow-Pell Mansion Museum
895 Shore Road; Pelham Bay Park; Bronx, NY 10464
Phone: 718-885-1461
Website: www.bartowpellmansionmuseum.org
The history of the site dates to 1654 when Englishman Thomas Pell purchased from the Siwanoy Indians 9,000 acres of what is now the Bronx and Lower Westchester. The Bartow-Pell home was built by Pell descendent, Robert Bartow, between 1836 and 1842. The property was annexed by the City of New York in the late 1880s and was then left in derelict condition. In 1914, the women of the International Garden Club saved and restored the site and opened the gates to the public as a museum in 1946.
During the years of 1915-1918, the firm Delano and Aldrich undertook the restoration of the Bartow-Pell Mansion Museum and were credited with the creation of a new conservatory, otherwise known as L’Orangerie. After years of wear and tear; and witness to almost 100 years of history, the doors were in desperate need of repair. In the summer of 2006, the restoration and preservation of beautiful doors went underway. Curtis Barnhart of Barnhart Restoration and Nate Shellkopf of Southslope Woodworks were charged with the challenge of conserving the existing deteriorating wood, priming and painting of the word work. They also cleaned and conserved the door and transom hardware. At the end of the summer the team provided the Bartow-Pell Mansion Museum with a beautifully repaired L’Orangerie.
On Sunday, April 15th at 4pm, Curtis Barnhart and Nate Shellkopf will provide a hands-on presentation about the techniques used and the intricacies of restoring Bartow-Pell’s L’Orangerie doors. They will also discuss the importance of preserving historic structures in an age when older structures are often taken down and replaced by new building.
The fee is $8/pp. Please call 718-885-1461 or email [email protected] to make a reservation.
Directions: Accessible by #6 bus (Pelham Station), transfer to Westchester Bee-Line #45
Cars exit the Hutchinson River Parkway or I-95 at City Island/Orchard Beach. From I-95, merge onto Shore Rd. Follow 1.1 miles over drawbridge and straight to traffic circle. From Hutch, follow exit ramp .5 mile to traffic circle. All exit right into the traffic circle. Bear left ¾ of the way around traffic circle to Shore Road North. Follow Shore Road North .4 miles. Enter stone gates on the right.
Hours: Grounds are free and open daily 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Guided Mansion Tours: Wednesday, Saturday, Sunday 12 p.m. – 4 p.m
$5 adults, $3 seniors and children over 6 years old