Help Us Save Our New Headquarters
Edge Hill Texaco as it stood in the 1930s.
We need your help to save the Edge Hill Service Station. Some of you may know this building, situated at the corner of U.S. Rt. 17 (Main Street) and Rt. 14. Built in 1930, it remains an icon of early 20th-century downtown Gloucester, visible to over 19,000 vehicles every day as commuters and tourists pass by on their way to work, to the Northern Neck, or to Hampton Roads. With holes in the ceiling and plaster falling off the walls, neglect, vandals and mother-nature have taken their toll and without your help it will surely fall to ruin. Hidden inside, though, are amazing remnants of the original 1930s design making it one of the most significant buildings in Gloucester’s Downtown Historic District. With your help we can restore this important Gloucester landmark into a vibrant center for preservation.
Over the next three years we plan to restore the Edge Hill Service Station to its 1930s appearance. The station retains much of the original 1930s lighting, window, and door hardware, including metal-framed windows in the garage bays and reception area, daisy glass in the bathroom windows, and light covers for fixtures under the eaves of the roof. Inside the building, our restoration will take advantage of the industrial qualities of an early 20th-century service station. After peeling away modern changes, we will adapt the space to suit more general uses, such as office and lab space, while updating electricity, central air and plumbing. We are exploring options for “green” construction and the pursuit of LEED certification.
There are many ways you can contribute to this project.
With your help we can restore Edge Hill Service Station into a building we can all be proud of.
Cash donations will form the backbone of the project, helping us hire local businesses and restoration experts to ensure that this restoration is authentic and built to last more than a few lifetimes. Your donation is not only tax deductible, but it will also leverage other donations through matching grants and rehabilitation tax credits available through the state and federal governments. For every dollar you contribute towards this restoration, we will receive $0.40 back from the sale of tax credits. This is essential to our restoration efforts and completing the purchase of the property. These are tax deductible contributions and would add significantly to the project. There are other ways to contribute, too. You can volunteer at one of our clean-out days. Swing a sledgehammer, push a broom, tear down a drop ceiling, and help us recycle and dispose of the waste. You can also volunteer your time on our fundraising and events committees, helping write grants or planning restoration workshops. If you have a special skill, such as gas pump restoration or carpentry, we need your help. Every little bit helps. Restoring a 1930s service station to its original grandeur is no easy task. The project will take significant time and funds to complete. But our goal is to make this a part of the community—a symbol of pride that we can all claim as our own.