This article needs to be updated. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information.(January 2017)
The William B. Dunlap Mansion was a historic house in Bridgewater, Pennsylvania, United States. Erected in 1840 on a bluff over the Beaver River in the northern part of the borough, it has been ranked as the grandest and best-preserved 19th-century house in Bridgewater.[2]: 2, 4 On January 16th, 2017, the structure was demolished by borough authorities following condemnation.[3]
The mansion was built for coffee entrepreneur James Arbuckle, whose architect employed the Greek Revival style of architecture. Arbuckle lived in the house until 1865, when he sold it to Samuel R. Dunlap and his family. Among the mansion's new residents was Samuel's son William, who ran his river transportation business from the house. Upon Samuel's death in 1890, the house passed into William; he continued to reside at the property until his own death in 1922. During these years, the house was the home of a public official: William was elected to represent the 46th District in the Pennsylvania State Senate in 1890, and he remained in this position until his death.[2]: 4 After his death, the house passed through the hands of few owners; it changed ownership very few times and was only rarely vacant, and thus it has seen less change than most period houses.[2]: 3 Except for a period as the home of a veterans' organization, the mansion has always been used as a residence, although would-be buyers sought to convert it into offices or a print shop.[2]: 5
Dunlap's mansion is a three-story brick structure built on a stone foundation, with four large chimneys and a cedar interior.[2]: 3 Although the house is currently surrounded by a lawn and shrubs,[4] it was once surrounded by a formal garden that may have been larger than any other such garden in western Pennsylvania.[2]: 3
Following a court order obtained upon the city's request, the mansion was demolished on January 16th, 2017. 15-20 by-passers watched the historic mansion being demolished. According to the code enforcement officer, "plaster was falling from the ceiling, the boiler had rusted into place and floorboards were rotting". The owner (John Provich Jr.) was given a year to bring the house up to code before demolition would proceed, but no renovation was done.[3][6]
Pratt, Richard. A Treasury of Early American Homes. New York: Whittlesey, 1949.
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April 13, 2024
william, dunlap, mansion, this, article, needs, updated, please, help, update, this, article, reflect, recent, events, newly, available, information, january, 2017, historic, house, bridgewater, pennsylvania, united, states, erected, 1840, bluff, over, beaver,. This article needs to be updated Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information January 2017 The William B Dunlap Mansion was a historic house in Bridgewater Pennsylvania United States Erected in 1840 on a bluff over the Beaver River in the northern part of the borough it has been ranked as the grandest and best preserved 19th century house in Bridgewater 2 2 4 On January 16th 2017 the structure was demolished by borough authorities following condemnation 3 William B Dunlap MansionU S National Register of Historic PlacesU S Historic districtContributing propertyFront of the mansionShow map of PennsylvaniaShow map of the United StatesLocation1298 Market St Bridgewater PennsylvaniaCoordinates40 42 28 N 80 17 53 W 40 70778 N 80 29806 W 40 70778 80 29806Area0 6 acres 0 24 ha Built1840Architectural styleGreek RevivalDemolished16 January 2017Part ofBridgewater Historic District ID96000713 NRHP reference No 80003409 1 Added to NRHPAugust 29 1980History editThe mansion was built for coffee entrepreneur James Arbuckle whose architect employed the Greek Revival style of architecture Arbuckle lived in the house until 1865 when he sold it to Samuel R Dunlap and his family Among the mansion s new residents was Samuel s son William who ran his river transportation business from the house Upon Samuel s death in 1890 the house passed into William he continued to reside at the property until his own death in 1922 During these years the house was the home of a public official William was elected to represent the 46th District in the Pennsylvania State Senate in 1890 and he remained in this position until his death 2 4 After his death the house passed through the hands of few owners it changed ownership very few times and was only rarely vacant and thus it has seen less change than most period houses 2 3 Except for a period as the home of a veterans organization the mansion has always been used as a residence although would be buyers sought to convert it into offices or a print shop 2 5 Dunlap s mansion is a three story brick structure built on a stone foundation with four large chimneys and a cedar interior 2 3 Although the house is currently surrounded by a lawn and shrubs 4 it was once surrounded by a formal garden that may have been larger than any other such garden in western Pennsylvania 2 3 On August 29 1980 the house was added to the National Register of Historic Places for its architecture and for its association with William B Dunlap It is also a contributing property to a historic district the Bridgewater Historic District which was listed on the National Register in 1996 1 2 4 5 Following a court order obtained upon the city s request the mansion was demolished on January 16th 2017 15 20 by passers watched the historic mansion being demolished According to the code enforcement officer plaster was falling from the ceiling the boiler had rusted into place and floorboards were rotting The owner John Provich Jr was given a year to bring the house up to code before demolition would proceed but no renovation was done 3 6 References edit a b National Register Information System National Register of Historic Places National Park Service March 13 2009 a b c d e f g National Register of Historic Places Inventory Nomination William B Dunlap Mansion PDF Penndot gov November 1978 Archived from the original PDF on 2020 06 26 a b Crews Demolish Underground Railroad Safe House On MLK Day CBS Pittsburgh www cbsnews com 2017 01 16 Retrieved 2024 02 04 View of site provided by this picture John Buerkle Jr amp Mike Eversmeyer March 3 1996 Inventory PDF p 11 Retrieved 2009 07 18 Kurutz Daveen Rae Historic but dilapidated Dunlap Mansion demolished Beaver County Times Retrieved 2024 02 04 Further reading editBausman Joseph H History of Beaver County Pennsylvania and Its Centennial Celebration New York Knickerbocker 1904 The House Beautiful Building Annual 1926 Boston The Atlantic Monthly 1925 Pratt Richard A Treasury of Early American Homes New York Whittlesey 1949 nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to William B Dunlap Mansion Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title William B Dunlap Mansion amp oldid 1203046717, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
