Philadelphia Parks & Recreation recently rewarded Wissahickon Hall in East Falls with $776,000 in funding, writes Kyle Bagenstose for Hidden City.
The new funding will be used to address the 176-year-old underutilized landmark’s aging facade and mechanical systems.
The former creekside inn is often passed by motorists who are navigating Lincoln Drive.
As of earlier this year, passersby may notice scaffolding going up around the hall’s porch, equipment, and construction vehicles.
In relation to this, Philadelphia Parks & Rec confirmed that it is undergoing a two-phase, $608,000 project to repair and replace various aspects of Wissahickon Hall’s structure and facade.
Among the reparations include historic columns, framing members, porch decking, gutters, windows, and a marble plinth. There are also interior repairs, such as repointing and infilling stone walls to strengthen the building’s foundation, and replastering.
“PPR takes the building’s preservation seriously and has, for over 140 years of City ownership, maintained the building to the best of our ability,” a PPR spokesperson said.
In 2023, PPR paid $168,000 to replace the hall’s boiler system.
This upcoming work is a follow-up on issues found during engineering assessments in 2008 and 2014, respectively. The following year, a car crashed into the building and Hurricane Ida in 2021 flooded its first floor, making more repairs mandatory.
Read more about Wissahickon Hall and its upcoming repairs at Hidden City.
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