Preservation
DuPortail House, a Protected Historic Landmark in Tredyffrin Recent News Many long awaited renovations are in the works for the first quarter of 2009. The History of DuPortail House View of Duportail from Arbor.
Under the township's Historical District Ordinance, any work performed on these properties that require a building permit must be reviewed by the Tredyffrin Township Historical Architectural Review Board (HARB) and receive a Certificate of Appropriateness from the Board of Supervisors. The HARB reviews each property/permit according to the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation.
With a growing demand for a place to hold meetings, events and receptions a Board of Directors was established to guide the future preservation of the DuPortail complex, which also includes the Cottage and the Federal Barn built in 1790.
The Board of Directors is a dedicated group of volunteers with representation from Tredyffrin Historic Preservation Trust, Tredyffrin Easttown Historical Society, Open Land Conservancy, Tredyffrin Township's Historical and Architectural Review Board and Board of Supervisors. If you have an interest in helping with the ongoing preservation and maintenance of the DuPortail House, Federal Barn and Cottage; or serving on the Board of Directors, we encourage you to email duportail@verizon.net or call us for further information, 610-644-4840.
List of Protected Historic Landmark Historic Sites in
The Grounds
Duportail House is surrounded by Black Oaks (Quercus kelloggiia) which are used as nesting sites and/or food sources for many species of insects, mammals (DuPortail's own, Red tail fox, who presently lives in the Federal Barn with her family), birds, including tree squirrels, fishers, martens, owls, deer, and woodpeckers.
Over many years this neglected perimeter has allowed vines to disturb and strangled (literally) these specimen trees, reducing their canopies and longevity and compromising the healthy wild habitat.
Once all the vines and root systems have been removed, straw & grass seed will be applied to stabilize the soil to reduce erosion. Completion date, April of 2009.
The House
DuPortail is gradually receiving a well deserved face lift.
Schedule of Improvements
The original section of the DuPortail House was built in 1740 by John Harvard, Jr., a Welsh farmer, on a tract of land given to him by his father. The house was used as quarters by General Louise Lebeque DuPortail chief engineer of the Continental Army, during the encampment at

Source: Photograph, The U of Pennsylvania
The Pennsylvania Gazette Vol 35, Number 18.
Web: www.archives.upenn.edu/primdocs/uplan/gazettejul11937.pdf