Preservation group looks to secure city history
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The city is home to a large volume of Victorian and other old style homes and buildings and Preservation Williamsport continues its 39 year mission to ensure they remain for future generations.
"Preservation Williamsport was established in 1986 and incorporated in 1990," said board member and Rowley House Museum curator, Bob Kane, who is also a past President of the Lycoming County Historical Society.
"We have a 22-member board of local people that are very dedicated to preservation, and we have a membership of over 200 members," Kane said, noting that the organization has a long-range plan for the historic district.
Kane was also chair of the historic architecture review board, which oversees the historic district, for 20 years.
A cornerstone of the group's efforts is the Rowley House, a 13-bedroom mansion, which was purchased by Preservation Williamsport in 2004, from Kane who had previously purchased the home from the Catholic Diocese of Scranton, who owned it as a convent.
"We have bus tours there every month with people from all over the United States and outside the United States," Kane said.
After purchasing the home, Preservation Williamsport registered it as a 501, c3, nonprofit museum. "Since then, we've been eligible for grants, and we do public tours and all the things related to what you would do with the museum. And we've had wonderful, local donations over the years, such as there were seven Roeson paintings and many other things that were treasures from the community, from the Victorian time," Kane explained.
In recent years, the group has expanded beyond the bows of just the historic district.
"We're expanding more and more to help support what is going on in the larger regional area. We have a picnic every year during the Little League parade at the Rowley House Museum, we have an annual dinner, and we have a Christmas party, and we do fundraisers throughout the year," Kane said.
"We do a spring fundraiser called casino evil, then we do a fundraiser in the fall with a lot of Halloween themed things, such as one called Boo from the Porch," he said.
A current undertaking is the restoration of the Rowley House Museum kitchen to its original 1888 look and feel.
They are also looking at putting together an award program for those involved in restoration projects at old-style homes.
"We've had a number of houses that have been recognized in national magazines, so our reputation goes far and wide. In fact, the Rowley House Museum is one of the most architecturally significant Queen Anne houses in the state," Kane said.
Kane notes Preservation Williamsport is consistently looking for volunteers, particularly those on the younger side, looking to train and educate the next generation of history preservers.
To help fund the continued work of the organization, Preservation Williamsport will host a fundraising event from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 5 at 316 Rural Ave.
"It's been a dream for my husband, Matt, and I to own a Victorian home," said Dena Straub, who will close on the house in mid-October.
The original owner was a pharmacist named J. Paul Suess, with the second proprietor also owning a lumber yard, according to Kane.
Straub has been a member of Victorian Christmas, a sub-committee of Preservation for the past two years. The couple, both city natives, had been renting as they looked for the perfect home to acquire.
At the urging of fellow Victorian Christmas, Straub visited a tag sale to get a glimpse of the home, built in 1897, itself.
"I walked in there and I was like, 'oh, I gotta have this house. So we inquired about who to place an offer with, and I placed an offer that day. It wasn't even on the market at the time. They held it and would not accept the offer until it went on the market. But once it did, the rest is history," she said, explaining that the family that previously owned the house wanted it to go to someone that would take care of it, instead of turning it into apartments.
Straub said that she was immediately interested when Kane approached her about holding the fundraiser there.
"I loved the idea. I thought, 'this is a wonderful opportunity for people to see something that's been preserved.," she said, adding that only a few of the rooms have been painted or seen modern repairs.
"All of the woodwork is intact. To see an original parlor with the built-ins and the fireplace and the mantle and all those pieces are all intact. All the woodwork is there, including the hardwood floors," Straub explained.
"It's unique, even for Williamsport, where we have some gorgeous architecture, to find it as well preserved as it is," she said, noting that she doesn't see usage of the home as a fundraiser as anything "exceptional."
"As a community, we need to embrace Preservation Williamsport, and see the historical significance that our city offers. To have the concentration of homes that were built in the logging era in one city is unique, but the amount of them that are still intact is also unique," she said.
Due to Straub not yet officially owning the property, Kane reached out to REMAX for consent to hold the event there.
"They were very supportive of it, and they got me in contact with the sellers, who have owned the house since 1944, and they were thrilled to hear we were going to do this, and that the new owners admired the house so much," Kane said.
Due to limited parking, the event will feature valet parking at nearby Brandon Park. As well as guided tours of the residence and its history. Refreshments will be provided by Farrington Place.
For more information on the tour or becoming part of Preservation Williamsport, those interested are encouraged to visit the organization's website at www.preservationwilliamsport.com or reach out to Kane directly at 570-220-5982.