Haverford Historical Society Focuses on Conservation of its Collections

Air condition and heating may not have been a main focus of the Nitre Hall powder mills when they were built shortly after 1800. But now, more than two centuries later, those tasked with preserving the history of Haverford Township and its historical buildings have their eyes on modern-day systems that may preserve the past.

Next week, two professional conservators will spend two days surveying Nitre Hall, the cabin, the summer kitchen and the Federal School buildings in order to prepare comprehensive reports that will identify conservation priorities for the Haverford Township Historical Society (HTHS).

The reports are part of the 2013 Conservation Assessment Program (CAP), which has had a twenty-two year history of serving museums. CAP assists museums by providing funds for professional conservation and preservation specialists to identify the conservation needs of their collections and historic buildings and recommend ways to correctly improve collections and building conditions, according to a news release.

Nitre Hall, the headquarters for the historical society on Karakung Drive in Havertown, contains a huge photograph collection, artwork from local artists and atlases, among other items.

“It’s everything having to do with Haverford Township,” said Carolyn Joseph, curator.

But the building is not air-conditioned and there is a decades-old baseboard heating system. “It’s not a friendly storage environment,” said Joseph, who added that in the summer the temperature in the attic reach 120 degrees. “We’re trying to get a handle on what we can do to improve the interior environment,” Joseph told Haverford Patch.

Although the conservators’ visit and recommendations are covered by a grant, if the historical society wants to follow through on any of the recommendations it will have to raise money. And that’s something that it has done in the past, Joseph said, and may indeed do again.