CHALFANT: One of Kennett's treasures poised for renovation

One of the very cool things about this reporting gig is that I get to satisfy my curiosity and see what's behind locked doors --- legally!
On Thursday afternoon Jayne Bair, the new owner of the historic Chalfant Mansion in downtown Kennett, was kind enough to show me around the fire-damaged treasure, which she hopes will house her real-estate business (Century 21 Pierce & Bair).
"It's very exciting," said Jayne. She purchased the Queen Anne-style mansion earlier this year from her mother, who had owned it since the 1980s. Designed by Frank Furness and built in 1884 for William Chalfant, it has been vacant and boarded up since a fire in November 2014 displaced the tenants (it had been split up into four apartments).
Inside, it's dark and still smells of smoke. Some of the woodwork is charred. Soot covers the mirrors and lighting fixtures. There's graffiti on the walls. Lath and wiring is visible.
But when it's cleaned up and restored, this place will be magnificent again. The ornate fireplaces, with elaborate mantels, are stunning and the tile seems to be intact. There's a huge wall safe, and back and front staircases.
Crews have already demolished the kitchen that was at the west side of the house (it was a later addition) and have removed some of the blackened interior plaster, leaving bare brick walls. Tarps and Plexiglas protect the interior from the elements.
Jayne has hired Dennis Melton as the architect and MOBAC as the contractor. She said the project may be completed as soon as early 2017, but she realizes that a complicated renovation like this will probably take extra time.
The house was an important work by Furness, who also designed the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts on North Broad Street in Philadelphia, the old library at the University of Pennsylvania, and the Wilmington train station.



The date stone, and one of the iconic "top-heavy" chimneys, said to resemble smokestacks.



View from the third floor, looking down on North Union St. Jayne is considering using this room as her own office.



This fireplace is in the entry hall. Note the brilliant yellow tiles.



The west side of the house, with heavily damaged parts already removed.



This ornate safe has lots of cubbyholes. The "PT" stands for "Patented."



A glorious ground-floor fireplace. Note the soot-covered mirror, the radiator and the bare-brick walls.