church timely renova
chitecture in the public school
system for 12 years, and earned
her master's degree in Humanities
here in 1982. She attributes her
interdisciplinary course work here
as an inspiration for the continu
ing church renovation project.
"Our church is certainly not an
example of 'pure restoration' tak
ing it back to its original," Ross
said. "It's what you call 'adaptive
re-use' in which we respect the
structure's original architecture,
keeping what can be kept and
adapting the inside into something
useful."
To retain the impact of the
high Gothic ceilings and windows,
the condominiums are designed
on two levels, the second level
becoming a "loft."
In addition to retaining the
windows in all of the units, an
original brick wall which was
once.part of the exterior of the
church remains in one of the
units. The choir loft has become
the second floor in another unit,
and all units still have the original
wood floors which have been
stripped, sanded down, and
refinished.
The Rosses have not met with
any opposition to their project
from local residents.
"As a matter of fact, the entire
project has been very successful
and well-received," she claims.
nine of the units has already been
sold, and the second completed
wit is now on the market. Their
bird unit is scheduled to be com
,-{ete by February, 1984.
Since restoration in Marietta
of underway in 1972, the town
architecturally remains a cross
section—from revolutionary struc
tures to Victorian.
Ross served as the public rela
tions director for the Associates
for a number of years and during
that time a portion of the town
was put on the. National Register
of Historic Places as a well-
preserved example of a mid-19th
century town.
It seems then, that their entire
project has been a success. Not
only have the Rosses been able to
help the entire town of Marietta
begin to shatter its reputation of
being a rough river town; but, a
personal goal of preserving a part
of their community is now a
reality.
By the end of 1984, they expect
all four units of the condominium
to be completed.
"This project has been a learn
ing experience not only in the ar
chitecture and craftsmanship in
volved in preserving an historic
town, but in public relations as
well," she said.
"It has been the people of Lan.
caster County who have been the
hardest to show the appeal of our
quaint river town, but we're
trying."
Will Linda and Ken Ross
undertake another project of this
nature after the dust has settled
and their condominiums are
complete?
"We've not closed the door to
ever attempting a project like th
for the future," she mused
"Both Ken and I have had a
lot of fun and learned a great
deal from transforming the
church into condos, who knows
what our next project will be!"
agamignommill
A
c
Above, series of ladders lead to church's steeple. Right, interior view
condominium shows many geometric shapes incorporated into design la
architect John deVitry. Above right, detail of masonry window arch in VII
torian Gothic style.
Photos by Jerry Trently
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