Lefurgey Cultural Centre

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Stages of Restoration
Click on any of the photos to view a larger image.

BASEMENT
We start our tour in the basement where major structural support work was carried out. Existing joists were reinforced and new support beams, posts and floor joists added.

Also evident down here is the all new plumbing pipes and the totally re-wired Electrical Service throughout the house.

The foundation was generally in good shape reflective of the successful raising of the house around 1930. However patching was needed in a few places where its integrity had been eroded.

The heating system was upgraded to improve efficiency and heat distribution. The basement was the only area of the house where a sprinkler system was added.

FIRST FLOOR
A direct result of the basement structural work is evident in the solid feel to the floors as well as a general levelling out. The floors required patching in places throughout the building and all hardwood floors were re-finished. One dramatic change in the front hall is the restoration of the original curved doorway at the end of the hall.

Radiators were removed, painted and re-installed.

The beautiful plaster moulds were painstakingly renewed after new dry-walling of ceilings. New wallpapering or painting brought the walls back to life.

The kitchen was gutted to await new cupboards. The fireplace mantle in the Ball Room was removed for re-surfacing.

SECOND FLOOR AND "THE ANNEX" OR KITCHEN WING
Though smaller than the rooms of the first floor the four large rooms on the second were carefully restored as office space. Telephone, fibre optic and cable wiring was added throughout. Generally it fared much better than the annex or kitchen wing.At the rear of the main building stood the Annex or kitchen wing.

It was joined to the main building prior to 1900. In an earlier life it may have been a shop operated on the site by the original owner Mr William Tuplin.

During the course of the project it was discovered that much of the back wing - with the exception of the exterior walls - had to be gutted and rebuilt.

A modern kitchen will be downstairs and a spacious studio area is emerging from the ruins upstairs. It all happened so quickly and the new look so well resembled the old that many who passed by hardly noticed the few dry "open air" days of summer!

The pictures speak for themselves.

THIRD FLOOR
There have been dramatic changes. Pictured here are a few "before" photos and some taken during the work. There are four rooms plus a bathroom on the third floor. A slanted chimney covered in plaster - now closed off - runs through the East side.

THE CUPOLA
The crowning jewel which gave the shipbuilding and mercantile Lefurgey family full view of the marine comings and goings was a project in itself - presenting additional challenge due to its height and its exterior inaccessibility. These few photos show a little of what could be seen from the cupola.

EXTERIOR AND GENERAL REPAIRS
Dangerous lead-based paint was scraped and re-painted. All windows were repaired. The roof was shingled in cedar shingles and all new gutters were added.

A wheelchair ramp was added on the West side of the house and a Steel fire escape was added from the Annex and 3rd floor at the East of the building.

The main entrance off Prince Street is all new, the existing one which dated from the 1890s having been removed to facilitate improved access and reflect the original look of the house. The veranda was repaired with new railing and the veranda columns were repaired. A new back door, steps and porch roof were put in place off Winter St. Repairs to chimneys: one was capped permanently; also stainless steel liner was added in the functioning chimney.

These photos show the exterior activity at all levels.

TO BE DONE IN FUTURE
Landscaping; asphalt paving; wooden sidewalk up to front entrance; garage repairs, several finishing touches on both exterior and interior.