Court to Determine Fate of Pennsylvania Mansion
By Margaret Foster | Online Only | Nov. 4, 2009
Preservation Pennsylvania organized a "mini-victory" party on Nov. 1, 2009, to show support for the Benjamin Franklin Jones, whose demolition is on hold for now.
Credit: Preservation Pennsylvania
A Pennsylvania steel baron's summer cottage, empty for decades, may be demolished unless an appeals court spares the 1887 structure.
Last week a Cambria County judge turned down the Cresson Area Historical Association's request to save the house built by Benjamin Franklin Jones in Cresson, Pa., about 75 miles east of Pittsburgh. But within 24 hours, the association, which has owned the Jones Cottage since 1994, raised the necessary $10,000 to temporarily delay demolition of the brick structure.
"We're feeling pretty good because we all banded together, and we got the money," says Brenda Kalwasinski, president of the group, which is applying for private grants to repair the house's roof. "It's still on the endangered list. If we don't get the grant or some substantial donations, there's no way we can save it."
Over the years, the association has made minor repairs to the impressive building. But in January Judge Tulowitzki ordered the township to raze the house, deeming it a "nuisance hazard," by Nov. 15. According to the Tribune-Democrat last week, township officials do not intend to raze the house because of the appeal.
"With the matter in Commonwealth Court, we do not feel comfortable proceeding with the demolition," Gerald Neugebauer, township solicitor and attorney, told the Tribune-Democrat.
Preservationists hope to restore the house as a bed-and-breakfast or an alumni house for a nearby college. "It's one of the grandest 'cottages' in the area," says Erin Hammerstedt, field representative at Preservation Pennsylvania, who has been advising the local nonprofit for a year. "It's also the most intact."
Despite a leaky roof, broken windows, and other problems, the house can be rehabilitated, says Heidi Lawrence, a owner of Lawrence Restoration and Design, based in Monroeville, Pa. She owned and restored a Jones house in similarly poor condition. "It was definitely a doable project. It would be such a shame to lose a house like this," Lawrence says. "There are only so many homes that are left that are from the wealthy families. I just don't want to see another one torn down."
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Comments
Submitted by harwoodonna at: November 6, 2009
This house is fixable,if torn down they would never be able to replicate a Mansion like this ever again,I think they need to turn it over to the preservation trust and let them restore it,it may take a while to accomplish this but when it is done ,oh my what a show place it will be.Look at the Mansions in Detroit they are also great places to restore if someone could get a hold of them and fix them up,if I could move them to northern michigan they would be fixed nicely and utilized instead of letting them sit and rot.
Submitted by urs at: November 5, 2009
Antiques are what this is all about. Save and restore this special retreat that use to be used by special people. It still could hold a wonderful place to gather for special people.
Submitted by Brian at: November 4, 2009
Where will the ghosts go if the place is demolished? Haha, just joking! This place looks like it would be incredible if fixed up. It is a real shame that it has come to this.