This was one of the first
Methodist Churches in the United States. The site was purchased by the
church in 1835, and was used by the church until 1889, when the
congregation relocated. After the relocation, the “Centenary Church”
became the Centenary Building which housed various tenants over the next
110 years, standing in good condition until the destructive fire of
1999, which drove out 58 people and four businesses.
Tuckey Restoration was
involved in the emergency response and stabilization phases immediately
after the fire. They were retained by the Cumberland County
Redevelopment Authority, who took possession of the buildings after the
fire, to secure the building, remove debris and winterize it. In 2002,
Kenneth Tuckey, President of the Tuckey Companies began the process of
forming a group to purchase the old buildings and develop them into
commercial and residential units. The purchase occurred and ground was
broken in July of 2003. This major restoration was accomplished while
working with local, state and national historical agencies, and was
rebuilt to comply with all ADA requirements. The aspects of the
construction are too numerous to detail here, but this historic
structure has been preserved and continues to be a reminder of the
heritage of Carlisle, Pennsylvania.
