Brucemore has begun critical preservation work on the Servants’ Village Envelope Restoration Project (SVERP), which is estimated to be completed by the end of 2025. This $1.4 million project aims to address critical points of failure and deterioration to the exteriors of three buildings: the Servants’ Duplex (1909), Lord & Burnham Greenhouse (1915), and Bookbindery (1912).
Located on the east side of the estate, these buildings were all built in the early 1900s with a similar architectural style and coloring, and access via a separate service road. The buildings provided either living or working space for Douglas family servants to maintain the property, or recreational use for the family. More recently, the buildings have served as administrative and program support.
Specific Building Treatments
The Servants’ Duplex is a one-and-a-half-story mirror-image duplex that provided residential space, often for the head gardener or servants who had families. This project will address severe structural issues present in the foundation and brick chimneys, repair and restore the exterior envelope, including all windows and doors, rebuild the failing sunporches, and provide necessary drainage away from the building foundation.
The Lord & Burnham Greenhouse (LAB) includes a small, front-gabled headhouse with a basement and an attached greenhouse. This project will repair the head house by addressing the envelope, shingle siding, and wood trim. The project will add a louver to provide proper ventilation. A 2021-2022 project restored the glass enclosure, which was heavily damaged in the 2020 derecho storm.
The Bookbindery is a two-story structure that originally served a dual purpose as a hobby space for binding books and as a squash court until 1942, when it was renovated into a residence. This project will address windows and doors, shingle siding, and stormwater drainage issues.
Dows Lane and the adjacent sidewalk will remain open for much of the project, allowing visitors a full view of the property and access to the east and west sides of the landscape while work continues.
With Thanks
The project is funded by the generosity of The Hall Perrine Foundation and Preservation Fund donors. You can learn more about opportunities to invest in Brucemore’s future by visiting www.brucemore.org/give.
