Each Project will need a Leader, Specialists and many Team members.

The Project Coordinator (who is also a Project Specialist) communicates with the Felt Estate Project Managers and the other specialists and team members on the project. This person should have organizational and communication skills, and preferably be online (because e-mail is such an efficient means of communication).

Project Coordinators should be involved in only one project at a time, and see that project through to completion. He or she should have a skill related to the specific project and be comfortable woking with the Specialists and team members.

Our first goal for every project at the Felt Estate is "Work as a Team". Our Project Coordinators will help us realize that goal. They will schedule workdays for their team, and be in charge of making sure that materials and tools are available to accomplish the task as well as communicate directly with the team notifying them of workdays, needs, etc.

(Materials may be donated, or purchased by the township using donation money. Approval should be obtained from the Project Managers prior to making such purchases.)

Project Coordinators working on the mansion itself should become familiar with the Department of the Interior's Guidelines for the Rehabilitation of Historic Buildings because we will use these guidelines for our renovation. All projects must meet the Dept. of Interior's standards. Before beginning any project, the leader should comply with this requirement and have the project approved by the Project Managers. (We will have a Historic Rehabilitation Expert working with us.)

The Project Specialist is an individual who has a unique skill (plumbing, electrical, woodworking, etc.) to use on a specific project. The Specialist is someone who wants to volunteer his/her time for that project, working with the Project Coordinator and Team members, but does not want the responsibility of organizing the project, the materials, or communicating with the other members re workdays, etc.

The most indispensable members of any project are the Team Members. These are the skilled and/or unskilled workers who wish to donate time to the completion of one or more of our projects.

Team members may work on more than one project but should coordinate efforts with each Project Coordinator so that he/she isn't scheduled to work on two projects at the same time on the same day.

Team Members may be individuals who wish to give one day, one week, one month, or an ongoing number of hours to the completion or maintenance of a project. Team Members are the backbone of all our projects.

Team members should also be individuals who can take direction and work hard toward the accomplishment of a goal. They should be able to work as a team, accepting and respecting the authority and skills of the Project Coordinator and Specialists.

Incidently, for those of you with experience in the restoration business, yes we will be complying with the Department of the Interiors Guidelines for the Rehabilitation of Historic Buildings

Electrical: The electrical system is vintage 1920s stuff and will certainly need updating. This is rather urgent since almost all other projects will require a reliable electrical power source for tools, lighting, etc.

Plumbing: Initial inspections reveal that the plumbing is modern -- so it is a matter of getting running water there, checking for and repairing any leaks. Then working on individual faucets, drains, etc.

Heating: The heating is a boiler/radiator system. The township replaced the boiler a few years ago. We will need someone experienced in this type of heating system to check the system thoroughly once the water is there and running. (There is a good well on the property.)

The Main Parlor: The mansion had one large parlor to the south of the foyer. On the original blueprints the parlor measures roughly 25 X 36, spanning the mansion front to back. Today, little remains intact. The Seminary used the parlor for a chapel. In the 1970s, the State carved this room up into office cubicles and closets. The good news is that they preserved most of the woodwork.

Our first job here is to carefully remove and keep the woodwork, then remove the partition walls. Demolition volunteers wanted! To restore this room to its original state we will need woodworkers, plasterers, and painters. (If we cannot find suitable mural wallpaper to mimic the original we may have an artist paint the mural on the plaster walls.) Also, along one wall there was once a fireplace. We see evidence of the marble hearth on the floor. We will need someone willing to open up that wall to find what is beneath, and someone to restore or rebuild the fireplace.

The Formal Dining Room: The woodwork in this room is beautiful, as well as the plaster work on the ceiling. There exists little damage other than some water damage in one corner (again related to the East Portico roof leak). Two challenges in this room: a) remove the carpet squares (can we say "ugly"?) and restore the wood floor beneath; b) find a suitable replacement or alternative for the French hand-painted mural wallpaper that once graced the walls.

The South Parlor (Guest Bedroom): To the south of the Main Parlor was the guest bedroom that had a full bathroom and dressing room, and a lovely marble fireplace. The bathroom and dressing room are gone, and the fireplace is covered up. The State Police used the room for office space . It now has a drop ceiling (gag), and conduit running everywhere (gag again). For future rental purposes, this may be restored as a parlor (for weddings, wedding showers, parties, etc.) Like every room, the South Parlor will need woodworkers, plasterers, painters, and wallpaper hangers. This one will also need a fireplace specialist. We plan to build a handicap-accessible restroom where the full bath was.

The Covered Terrace: The Covered Terrace is the porch on the SE corner of the house. (East of the Guest Parlor; South of the Main Parlor.) This is the ideal project for the "unskilled" Team Member. The covered terrace is almost completely intact. What needs to be done? Removal of the windows in the arches and doors. When the mansion was built all of these arches/doors were open. I have a picture from 1929 that shows this beautifully. So, this will be a demolition team dream! With several workers, this project is a one-day deal.

The Library: With the woodwork intact, the library will require little "restoration". This room needs a thorough cleaning. The floors may need refinishing, and the ceiling will need some plaster work. This is a project mostly for people with those skills. (Team Members could clean, etc.). We expect his room to 'showcase' the restoration at its best.

The Kitchen/Pantry: Depending on what the Rehabilitation Engineer suggests, the kitchen floor linoleum tiles may need replacement. The room will need a thorough cleaning. It is the dirtiest room in the house. Some cupboard doors need replacement (identical to what is there, of course.) We are still investigating what is "modern" versus what is "original" in this room, and that will determine the amount of restoration needed.

Main Floor Service Area. This area will most likely be a lobby & entrance to the elevator and a business office for the mansion.

Eight Bedrooms and Four Bathrooms:

All plumbing work on bathrooms thruout the mansion will be the responsability of our Master Plumber. Tile work will probably require the attention of someone experienced in this area. There won't be "interior design" per se because the floors and walls are chosen for us (tiled), but final decorative touches and window treatments will be left to the "room" coordinators.

Master Bedroom Suite: Located in the southwest corner of the mansion, this spacious bedroom has four large windows, a fireplace, a full master bath, and an enclosed sleeping porch. When restored and properly funished, it will convey the grandeur of that era.
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Each of the remaining bedrooms will be a separate project requiring essentially the same work: removal of any partition walls; repairs to walls, flooring, and woodwork: decorating, painting and wallpapering.
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Four Full Bathrooms: Although the tile walls are mostly intact, some tile work may be needed (for plumbing repairs, etc.). There won't be "interior design" per se because the floors and walls are chosen for us (tiled), but final decorative touches and window treatments are necessary.
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At some point we may install "invisible" storm windows approved by the Department of the Interior. This depends on recommendations by the Rehab Engineer.

Brickwork: The brick on the mansion is in good condition. Some problems exist on the West Entrance of the Foyer, and on the basement facade. Masonry work and repointing is necessary in those areas for sure (probably other areas as well). Also, masonry skills are desired for the elevator shaft (which may be on the North side of the building).

Roofing and Gutters: Professional advice and labor is necessary for the East Portico Roof and the West Foyer Entrance roof. The West still leaks, and the East may need a more permanent repair. The main roof of the home is great (its slate!) and looks fantastic!

The Elevator: Most of this work is specialized, completed by a construction company (for the exterior), and by the elevator company. If you have professional experience in this area and wish to donate your time or expertise or materials, please let us know.

The Water Garden. Located in the round concrete pond designed as a water garden. (No, this was never a swimming pool, but it did have a rock that floated!)

The Pergola Rose Garden. To be located on the South Lawn.

The Shade Garden. Located down the hill by the stone grotto.

The Children's Garden and play area. Located north of the shade garden. (This will include a playhouse that is a miniature Felt Mansion!)

The Evergreen and Daylily Gardens. Located in front of the basement entrance on the West Lawn (facing the Township Park). These two gardens (which may overlap) will serve to welcome those approaching from the park entrance to the estate, and they will mask the basement facade.

The Hosta Garden. Located on the North side of the house. Hosta lovers will have the ultimate challenge: The hosta garden will surround the handicap parking area and you will need to make that "service" area attractive and inviting. Other ornamental shrubs and plants may be used, but we hope that a fine collection of hosta will grace that area and make it an area of real interest and beauty.

The Midnight Garden. In the small clearing at the end of the stone sidewalk, we hope to have a Midnight Garden - a seating area surrounded by white, silver, gray plants that will shimmer in the moonlight.

The Cottage Garden and Wildflower Butterfly Garden. Down the hill from the mansion, to the South of the Carriage House will be the Cottage and Wildflower Butterfly Gardens. Anchored by a white trellised arbor on one side, and a white gazebo on the other, these gardens will make a spectacular display. Can you imagine getting married in a field of wildflowers?! Beautiful!

Before we get started planting, we will need an underground sprinkling system. If you know of a professional in that field that may be willing to donate time, expertise, and/or materials, please let us know. Also, what is there is so overgrown and weedy, not much can be salvaged. If you own/operate or have access to a bobcat or other landscaping equipment (tree removal equipment as well), and you or someone you know will donate the use of the equipment and/or labor, please let us know.

ALL GARDENS will need workers -- diggers, planters, etc. Every skill level is needed in creating gardens of any sort.

ALL GARDENS WILL NEED PLANTS AND SOIL AND GARDEN FURNITURE! If you know where we can get plant material/supplies donated, or at a reduced price, please let us know.

SOME GARDENS will require cement contractors, pavers, etc. for paths. Many gardens will need carpenters for lawn structures.

I think it would be great if one of the informal gardens had a model railroad... A great project for the model railroad enthusiast.

Donations and Fund Raising. In order to fund a project of this magnitude, donations of expertise, labor, materials, and money are essential. Fund Raising is an enormously gratifying aspect of the project because you are able to see a direct link between what you do and the progress of the project. Our success at fund raising determines our success in this project.