(Credit for Photo: Photo Provided with Release Courtesy of the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission)
Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News
(Ambridge, PA) A fallen tree damaged a historically significant building at the Old Economy Village. A thunderstorm knocked the tree down onto its community kitchen around 5 p.m. on Tuesday. According to a Facebook post from Old Economy Village, the kitchen is “a historically accurate rebuild that houses artifacts and serves as a gathering space for the village’s programs and events.” According to a release from the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission (PHMC), their Department of Architecture and Preservation is conducting a thorough assessment and a recovery plan will be executed in three critical phases:
- Phase One – Debris Removal: A local tree removal company has already assessed the site and provided a quote. Extracting the tree safely is the immediate priority.
- Phase Two – Building Stabilization: Once debris has been removed, the PHMC’s Department of Architecture and Preservation will assess the damage and enact plans to stabilize the structure.
- Phase Three – Artifact Preservation: Once the structural integrity of the building is deemed safe, Curatorial Specialists will enter the space to properly recover, document, and securely store the historic artifacts that were on display inside the kitchen.
PHMC and Old Economy Village leadership are working to restore the space as quickly as possible and to safeguard collections.