|
Hamburg Pennsylvania is in the middle of a historical
renaissance. Properties are being restored to their original integrity,
new businesses are moving into town and we are about to undergo
an enormous new streetscape project which will only further the
presence that Hamburg is a town on the rise. Below are some of the
beautiful properties, both commerical and residential that have
caught our eye lately.
Before Restoration - 2004
|
Restoration (In Progress) -
August 06
|
Finished Restoration November 06 |
We don't know much about this residence yet
but they sure are making quite a stir in town. They've undergone
a process of stripping off years of white paint from the brickwork,
door headers and shutters were removed and today 8/18/06 they've
begun to sandblast the brick on the top right corner. It looks beautiful.
The home really stands out from the rest of the properties. We can't
wait to see what colors they pick for the trim. Another great project
funded by the Hamburg PA Our
Town Foundation.
Before Restoration - Late 2005
|
Restoration (In Progress) - April 06
|
This restoration project funded by the Our
Town Foundation is one of the most visible properties in the
town. This beautiful victorian home has been repainted, the old
signage and steel caging removed, a new roof and currently they
are installing copper flashing. This incredible face-lift has only
taken two weeks so far but the results have really caught the eye
of everyone in town. I am sure the former owners of this home would
have been proud. This building was the
machine shop of Snell and Meharg relocated from Reading to Hamburg.
One of the partners, George Meharg, built this Queen Anne Style
Home. It stayed in the possession of the Meharg family until the
early 1950’s when it became the social quarters for the Veterans
of Foreign Wars.
Before Restoration - Late 2005
|
Restoration May 06
|
Final Facade Improvement - Summer 06 |
This four story building is the highest in town
and is the most eye catching due to it's location. Not only was
it painted a beautiful combination of sage, yellow and brick red
colors but many of the pediments above the side windows were completely
removed and rebuilt for the building. The final stage of the restoration
is to remove the F & F Shop sign out front ant to replace it
with a more appropriate sign for the Muller Rare Coins & Fine
Jewelry that occupies the storefront on the first floor. Built in
1880 this Italianate style four-story building was known as the
Confer building a century ago. The top floor was once a large ballroom
for operas, dancing, and other affairs. The ground floor has housed
many businesses over the years, including a liquor store (the reason
for the bars on the side windows). An impressive portico once covered
the sidewalk on both 4th and State Streets. The top windows inspired
the town’s Historical Hamburg logo.
2 North 4th Street
| |
The American Hotel of the late 1990s had little
in common with it's beautiful Victorian styled past. Along with
numerous "improvements" to the property like the removal
of the original portico, the addition of the small brown shingled
roof, functional windows, a Coke sign, and a first floor faux
exterior covering the original brick, the property left much
to be desired (and that only stops at the exterior). In 2004
a new owner took over and the much needed rennovation to this
Hamburg landmark was about to begin. |
Beginning of Restoration - Late 2005
|
April 06 - Hotel (In Progress)
American Hotel Bar (Basement) Finished
American Hotel Fine Restaurant Finished and Open
American Hotel 2nd & 3rd Floors & Exterior (In Progress)
|
Computer Mock Up of Final Design of Exterior
and Signage for Restaurant and Hotel April 07
|
Progress July 2007 - Painting begun, new gutters and bistro
lighting made ready
|
By far one of the most extensive restorations
in town and one that will be the most significant. The American
Hotel is being restored entirely inside and out. In the end the
hotel will have undergone a 1 million dollar rennovation which will
include a 25 room victorian inspired hotel along with a fine dining
restaurant on the first floor and a sports bar in the basement of
the building. As of April 2006 the bar is completed, the restaurant
opened this month to rave reviews and hotel second and third floors
continue in their rennovation. The timeline of the project is estimated
at Spring of 2007.
This corner site has been a tavern/hotel for
many years; however, its inception is unclear. The earliest record
of real estate transaction is February 7, 1813. It changed hands
many times until 1853 when it became a licensed hotel under Peter
Fink and housed a tavern, eating house and oyster cellar. In its
early years, the hotel served as an overnight shelter for many travelers
and more recently housed quests that stayed monthly or yearly. After
being closed for many years, new owners have reopened the tavern,a
gourmet restaurant and renovations are currently under way to include
a bed and breakfast style hotel.
3rd Street
Before Picture 1999
|
Photo in 2004 with new turret |
Now a public parking lot for shoppers in the Hamburg
business district, this parking lot remained in limbo for a number
of years. Once the home of the George Washington Hotel which had
been dated back to 1772, the building was razed just over 200 years
later in the 1970's due to the prohibitive cost in rennovating the
building to meet the current codes. In 2002, artist Eric Armusik
was hired to do a mock up of a landscaping design for the parking
lot and a grant was secured by Rep. Argall for the project. Today
the project not only has an old fashioned clock (donated by the
Rotary Club) but a beautiful iron and copper bulletin board was
installed through a grant from the Our Town Foundation in 2005.
Before Picture 2001
Photo by Darren Modricker |
Mock up Design of Parking Lot
with landscaping & clock
2002 |
Completed design 2006
|
Restoration in Progress - Late 2005
|
|
This gorgeous property on Franklin Street has
been under a meticulous restoration for the past year. The owner
of the home has taken the existing asphalt siding off and exposed
the original wooden siding. From there they have puttied, sanded
and picked a beautiful olive color and cream accent to bring back
the original integrity of this property. This home is a great example
of the pride Hamburg homeowners have in their properties.
Restoration in Progress - Spring 2006
|
Close up of reconstructed gingerbread |
Spring 2007 Exterior Complete |
|
