Restoration Journey — Trumansburg Conservatory of Fine Arts

Progression of a church building from an old black-and-white photo to a color photo and finally to a modern, renovated version with a blue sky and clouds in the background.

Our restoration project has begun!

We're excited to share that our Capital Campaign has been incredibly successful, and thanks to the generosity of our donors, Phase 1A funding has been achieved, and construction to restore our beautiful building is now underway.

Contributions have come in all sizes, from individual donations, grants, and fundraising events, with amounts ranging from $25.00 to over $350,000. We truly appreciate the support from everyone involved as we move forward with this important project.

Construction to restore our historic building is underway. The Phase 1A structural work and demolition has been completed. Work is now underway to complete all tasks listed under Phase 1A.

Join us in our exciting journey as we renovate our historic building!
We thank you for your continued support!

Three photos of a room with plastic-wrapped modules and a caution asbestos sign, indicating an asbestos removal process.

Asbestos Abatement

The last remnants of the building's original heating system have now been removed from TCFA.

Left image shows a rustic wooden floor hallway with wooden paneling on the walls and several windows. Right image shows a wall with damaged and peeling paint, exposing wooden framing and drywall behind.

Selective Demolition

Sinks, toilets, and tile have been removed from our bathrooms and reception area revealing beautiful softwood pine! Removal of the famous fiber board in the Lobby uncovered our remaining plaster and is giving more insight on the scope of the project.

Utility truck using a bucket lift to trim or remove branches from a tall, leafless tree near a building.

Blue historical marker in front of an old white church with columns and a blue door. The marker provides information about the church's history, built in 1851 by Daniel Elmore, and its connection to the Baptist church and society of Ulysses.

Tree Removal

Our second sugar maple was removed from the front lawn of TCFA, and not a moment too soon. Dead branches were also removed from trees in our backyard. We will be planting new trees in the front after the renovation construction is complete.

The exterior of the Conservatory with weathered siding, and an unfinished foundation, showing part of the building under renovation.

Interior of the Conservatory with large windows, high ceiling, and a balcony area. The floor is covered with protective material and is under renovation or construction.

We Lifted the Building

Structural work began by lifting the south wall of the building. Subsequent work will provide additional support and help level the floor.

Inside, the conduit has been removed, and protective material has been laid on our dance floor to prepare for demolition.

Interior view of renovation at TCFA with exposed wooden framing, a partially exposed lateral brick wall, and a white sliding door, along with an unfinished concrete floor.

Picture showing the interior of the wall being renovated.

Room with damaged ceiling and collapsed wood, debris covering the floor, partially exposed walls, and a closed white door.

Interior wall with a large hole or damage, a metal ladder leaning against it, and a window with blinds to the right.

Look at our Bones!

We are beginning to see what is behind the fiberboard and plaster. The lobby has been cleared, and it provides a good look inside of our beautiful building.

Construction site at TCFA where workers are repairing and rebuilding a damaged house, using an excavator to remove debris and replace the foundation; one person supervises, while another operates the equipment.

A person repairing the foundation at TCFA with stone bricks.

Our Masonry Work Has Been Completed

The structural foundation is being repaired, both inside and outside, which includes the base of the columns. This work also addresses previous patchwork repairs in order to ensure we stand strong for another 150 years.

Exterior of thConservatory building with tall columns, surrounded by a construction fence. The building has a pediment, decorative moldings, and windows. Snow covers the ground, and the sky is clear blue. There are leafless trees in the background.

Our beautiful entry...

We’re thrilled to announce the restoration of TCFA's beautiful entry is underway! Our general contractor, Bouley Associates, has begun work by installing protective fencing around the front of the building.

The image shows a damaged wooden staircase in front of a house, with some steps missing or broken, exposing dirt and debris underneath. To the right, there is a blue door and part of a white wall, with a green shrub on the left side.

Close-up of a wooden structure with a concrete base, part of a building under construction, with snow on the ground.

Our Front Porch

The old ramp has been removed, exposing the portico deck framing. While the timbers are in remarkable condition given their age, some sections along the front edge have deteriorated. The deck floor joists rest on loose stone piles, which will need to be reconstructed. We have also inspected the backs of the stone column bases and found them to be in very good shape.

The old deck sloped four inches from the exit doors to the edge, which exceeds the maximum allowable slope under current building codes. The current plan is to raise the outer edge of the deck to achieve proper compliance while preserving the historic appearance of the front facade. The architect is working on a solution to address this issue.

Collage of renovation work on the TCFA exterior: top shows a weathered window frame, bottom left shows a new wooden porch framework, bottom right shows a house foundation with siding and a downspout.

Building from the Ground Up

1. Lifting the building

2. Securing the foundation

3. Repairing the masonry

4. Replacing rotted wood

5. Sanding and painting

The image shows the side of TCFA with white vinyl siding. The building has a gable roof with three windows: two standard windows and a small dormer window. There is a black gutter along the roof edge and a downspout on the left side.

Returning to the
Original Look

Our historic photos paved the way for color selection as we continue our restoration of the historic exterior.

Construction workers working on the front porch of TCFA with tall columns, construction materials, and equipment nearby.

Our Historic Exterior is Coming to Life!

Moving from the old to the new.
The work has also included window and gutter repair.

Wooden deck flooring construction with installed planks, some stacked nearby, on a porch attached to a house with white walls and large windows, surrounded by green trees.

Exterior of TCFA with large windows, construction materials, and safety cones nearby, indicating ongoing building or renovation work.

Progress on the Front Porch &
ADA Compliant Ramp

Progress on the restoration of our historic exterior is coming along nicely. Our exterior doors have been removed for restoration off-site. With the announcement of a second NYSCA grant, plans are in place to begin our historic interior restoration soon.

The front of a the TCFA building with tall columns and steps, with a boarded-up doorway and construction tape.

Backyard scene showing TCFA with vinyl siding and windows, a grey storage bench on a gravel surface, a red bucket, various pipes and wires, a chain-link fence, and trees in the background.

Ramp & Porch Update

The exterior of the building is almost complete. Once the railings have been installed and the porch is complete, the exterior painting will resume.

Interior of the foyer under construction, showing wooden framing, a stepladder, and an unfinished ceiling.

Interior of a the entry way under construction with unfinished drywall, a blue wall, and construction tools including a shovel and a bucket.

Interior of TCFA under renovation with scaffolding, a ladder, and construction materials, featuring a staircase and a window with sunlight coming in.

Our Interior Work Resumes

Work in the lobby continues as construction moves forward on the new ADA-compliant bathroom — a welcomed addition to the Conservatory. The walls have been insulated, drywall has been installed, and the plumbing and electrical work are now in place. As we continue raising funds to support this project, we’re excited to see this important improvement taking shape.

Front view of the Conservatory – a white, neoclassical-style building with tall columns and a triangular pediment.

Our New Exterior

We have been focused on the exterior restoration and accessibility upgrades. These essential improvements include:

Repairing the timber frame and stone foundation
Building a new ADA-compliant ramp
Installing automatic openers on our historic front doors
Creating a new universal restroom
Rebuilding the front portico
Painting the building’s exterior

Construction scaffolding inside the main hall with a decorative ceiling, large windows, and partially installed ceiling panels or tiles.

Construction workers renovating a large room with scaffolding, where the ceiling tiles are being replaced or repaired.

Interior of TCFA under renovation or construction with workers, tools, scaffolding, and unfinished walls and ceiling.

Deconstruction of
the Main Hall

Deconstruction of our main hall is in full swing. Structural reinforcements are added before installing insulation.

Our bones continue to look great! We even found the original old wallpaper.

Fragment of a vintage decorative tile floor with ornate brown and beige borders, damaged with cracked and missing tiles, and exposed concrete underneath.