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McFarland House restoration moves forward
(by Sali McSherry - January 28, 2010)
McFarland House restoration moves forward
By SALI McSHERRY
After years of hope that the project would move forward, the Duncan McFarland House in Bentleyville, which is on the National Register of Historic Places, will be resurrected.
Bentleyville Village Council approved a contract with the Cleveland Metroparks last week to lease for free the house and the Bentley barn at 35069 Cannon Road. The buildings are within the South Chagrin Reservation of the Metroparks. The village has a one-year lease, with automatic renewals each year, with conditions, according to the contract.
"There's a lot of interest" in preserving the buildings, said Councilwoman Wendy Gillund, who will serve on a committee appointed by Mayor Leonard Spremulli, along with council members John Bourisseau and Penny Whitaker, to oversee renovations.
The McFarland House was built in 1848 and has architectural significance as one of the few brick Greek buildings in the Western Reserve.
Ms. Gillund said she especially was pleased that the Bentley barn, which years ago had been moved to that location, had been added to the lease. The Metroparks has used the barn for storage, she said.
The McFarland House homestead was home to one of the first Boy Scouts of America camps in the area, Mr. Bourisseau said, and was very active until the 1930s. The McFarland House will house Boy Scouts memorabilia and be a focal point for exploring the history of Bentleyville, he said.
Arthur Kvacek, of Chagrin Falls, who is active in the Boy Scouts, is a wealth of information and will be key to the success of the project, Mr. Bourisseau said. Local Boy Scouts and Eagle Scouts will have an opportunity to be involved with the project, he said.
"We want to restore the building to its original state as much as possible," Ms. Gillund said.
Over the years, the Metroparks had considered demolishing the McFarland House due to its poor condition.
In February, the committee will begin meeting and will create a time line for the renovations, Mr. Bourisseau said. The committee also will research grant opportunities and raise money through individual donations, he said.
Mr. Bourisseau said the basement beams have been shored up at the McFarland House.
Next on the agenda could be installing new roofs for the house and barn, Ms. Gillund said.
Other plans include pulling out the carpet, Mr. Bourisseau said.
For those interested in working on the project to renovate the McFarland House and Bentley barn, call Village Hall at (440) 247-5055.
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