Historic preservationist embraces volunteering roles in Sewickley

Teresa Duff of Sewickley is a preservationist force committed to her adopted community of Sewickley.

Duff is a professional architectural conservator, owner and director of Lineage Historic Preservation Services.

“Generally speaking, on a project I work in tandem with the project architect or engineer and work in the lane of the historic materials,” Duff said.

She moved to Pittsburgh in 2008 after growing up in Pasadena, Calif., and living in Qufu, China, for more than two years.

“It’s the home of Confucius. I did a lot of traveling there including Japan and Korea and visited a lot of World Heritage Sites like the Great Wall of China,” Duff said. “When I was visiting all these different places I realized I really wanted to work in the preservation of such sites. I found it very interesting and dynamic.

Duff, 48, holds an undergraduate degree in art history from the University of California Berkeley and a master’s degree in historic preservation with a focus on architectural conservation and site management from the University of Pennsylvania.

She is a member of the following professional memberships: American Institute of Conservation, Americans for the Arts, Association of Preservation Technology, National Trust for Historic Preservation, Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation, Pittsburgh Museum Educator Roundtable, Preservation Pittsburgh and The Society for Protective Coatings.

Lineage clients have included the City of Pittsburgh, Hartwood Acres County Park, Etna Borough, Pittsburgh International Airport and the Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh.

Past projects include working on preservation efforts on interior renovations at Heinz Hall in Pittsburgh and Fallingwater.

“It’s a specialized skill set and understanding of the materialist of everything,” Duff said.

As a director of the Sewickley Valley Historical Society and chairperson of the Sewickley Historic Review Commission, Duff is driven to create a community-led preservation plan for the three historical districts in Sewickley.

She has volunteered for 12 years and collaborates with a five-member team that is responsible for reviewing applications for exterior work on properties located in the historic districts.

Last year, the project identified more than 30 places and buildings that may be eligible for the national register in Sewickley Borough.

The historic zones were designated during the 1990s to protect pockets of historic architecture in Sewickley.

“We have eclectic Victorian, Gothic Revival, Italianate and some Georgian and Federal combined architectural styles in the borough,” Duff said.

Duff was instrumental in the restoration of the Bittenger Cross at Sewickley Presbyterian Church.

The historic cross dates back to 1870 and was originally installed on the roof but routine maintenance revealed cracks. Duff teamed with Eisler Landscape in 2023 to repair the sandstone cross and install it on a new, limestone base.

The cross is located near the church entrance.

“It was so meaningful because this is what preservation for me is all about. Essentially the structural integrity is brought back to the cross and we started its next chapter. Now it has a new spot and can tell its story,” Duff said.

Additionally, Duff volunteers as a grant writer and election poll worker.

“I’m proud to serve my community and participate in our democracy,” she said.

An avid runner, Duff is a marathon enthusiast, traveling across the U.S. and internationally to complete six marathons.

“I run a lot of local races and I do travel. The last marathon I ran was in Berlin, Germany, last year,” she said.

Next up for Duff is running in the New York City Marathon in November.

A cat mom of senior feline Gizmo, Duff shares her home fostering kittens for the Beaver County Humane Society. On average, she fosters for two-to-six weeks and often has to bottle-feed them. Gizmo is separated from the kittens as he prefers to be king of the household.

“They have the whole third floor and I cry every time I have to give them back,” Duff said. “Gizmo is a ginger cat and he’s 11. He’s our covid cat.”

Duff also has a green thumb and grows a vegetable garden each year.

Duff collaborated with Quaker Valley Middle School to volunteer her expertise on historic preservation for a middle-school American History field trip enrichment learning opportunity in which students visit the archives at the SVHS.

“This is one of my proudest accomplishments with the Sewickley Valley Historical Society volunteer work,” Duff said.

She has a 16-year-old daughter who attends Quaker Valley High School.

Trading a West Coast lifestyle for the East Coast has been rewarding for Duff.

She appreciates the architecture lining the Sewickley streets of Woodland, Pine and Irwin during her many runs around town.

“Community keeps me here and engaging in civic duty is just a part of who I am,” Duff said.