In the more than 130 years since its completion, the Charnley-Persky House has experienced substantial changes and transitions. The house transitioned from being a single-family, owner-occupied home to a rental property before it was sold by the Charnley family. Over the years, the house has had several owners, each of whom adapted the space for their purposes. But through it all, the building has retained the key elements of its architectural integrity. The building remains in its original location and retains its original plan and form. The house retains a large amount of original material including the exterior stone and brick walls, interior wood flooring, doors, decorative millwork, and fireplaces.
The most significant change to the house was made by the Waller family who occupied the house from 1918 to 1969. The Wallers built a three-story addition on the south end of the house. Fortunately, most of the architect designed details, incredible woodwork, and interior architecture remained intact. The addition was removed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill Foundation when they occupied the house in an effort to restore the house to its original form. The house as seen today reflects the conservation and restoration efforts of individuals and organizations who recognized the importance of the house and their desire to preserve this architectural gem.
The following is a brief summary and partial list of the major restoration and conservation work that was done to the house since 1970:
- 1978-1982: Balcony and chimneys rebuilt, Thermopane windows added, copper cornices repaired, masonry and stone cleaned and repointed, paint removed. Work authorized by Lowell Wohfeil (owner) and supervised by Tim Samuelson and John Vinci (architect)
- 1988: Wallers’ three-story addition removed, new copper roof installed, skylight restored, leaded glass windows restored, 3rd floor windows restored to original design, plaster wall restored, mosaic tile of fireplace restored, wood finishes throughout the house restored. Work authorized by Skidmore Owings & Merrill Foundation (owner) and supervised by John Eifler (architect for SOM).
- 2002-2003: Underground coal vault rebuilt, basement waterproofed, exterior brick repointed, balcony panels repaired, exterior trim repainted. Work authorized by Charnley-Persky House Museum Foundation (owner) and supervised by John Eifler, Eifler & Associates (architect). Restoration was funded by an appropriation of $300,000 from the State of Illinois.
But as with any older structure, the house requires regular monitoring, assessment, and maintenance to ensure its architectural integrity, soundness, and authenticity. Over the years, the Charnley-Persky House Museum Foundation (CPHMF) and the Society of Architectural Historians (SAH) have been responsible and diligent stewards of this National Historic Landmark, securing the funds and expertise necessary to maintain, repair, and restore the Charnley-Persky House as needed.
In 2014, funded by $70,000 from local foundations and individual donors, CPHMF repaired damage from a freak, flooding accident on the second floor of the house. A sewer line back up through the second-floor toilet caused significant damage to the library and basement. Sections of plaster walls and ceilings had to be removed and replaced in the library and basement. A new quarry tile floor was also installed in the basement at that time.
In 2016, CPHMF hired Harboe Architects to create a Conservation Management Plan (CMP) for the house. The Foundation uses the CMP as a comprehensive planning tool for the future conservation, restoration, and rehabilitation of the house. The plan directs the priorities for urgent repairs and restoration and provides time and cost estimations for the full scope of work outlined in the CMP.
Work undertaken under the CMP since 2018 include roof repairs to address water leaking into the house through the southeast corner of the skylight, repairs to prevent windblown water from leaking through the skylight, attaching new hydraulic arms to the roof hatch to make access to the roof easier for inspections and repairs as needed, and repairs to address moisture seepage in the south wall on the third floor that had damaged the plaster. Staff have also noticed that the central staircase was deflecting. A thorough study of the staircase and atrium structures, including a structural review of the staircase (funded by the Alphawood Foundation), was done to determine if the staircase was structurally adequate for the loads imposed on it due to the ongoing occupancy and use of the house. The stairs are currently being monitored to assess the magnitude and pattern of any downward vertical movements. Additional changes include installation of two new high-efficiency boilers and further waterproofing repairs to the skylight and south wall.
While several critical and unexpected threats have been addressed between 2018 and today, there are still many issues that need to be addressed and for which CPHMF must raise funds. If left unresolved due to a lack of funds, these issues will worsen. Ongoing small-scale maintenance efforts while mitigating some of the worst effects of these problems do not provide long-term solutions. CPHMF will continue to work with interested parties and organizations to raise the funds to fully conserve and restore the Charnley-Persky House.