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What Future For This Historic Lancaster PA Farm House?

By
Real Estate Agent with Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage, Lancaster PA RS134746A

What Future For This Historic Lancaster PA Farm House?

For years I have passed this vacant and boarded up stone farm house on Charlestown Road, Lancaster, PA.

Stone Farmhouse, Lancaster, PA

                            When I first saw it, there was farm land on both sides of the road.

             Stone Farmhouse, Lancaster, PA

                                      Now there are commercial property and municipal projects nearby.

Barn, Lancaster, PA

                                                    This is the old barn on the property.

              Stone outbuilding

      There is a matching stone outbuilding next to the farm house.  Perhaps it once was a carriage house.

                                Stone farm house, Lancaster, PA

The style of the farm house indicates that it was probably built circa 1780 or 1790, during or shortly after the American Revolution.  One can only imagine how much history this home has seen!  Unfortunately, it has been sadly neglected.  I wonder how long it can go before it gets vandalized, or worse yet, demolished?

Stone farm house, Lancaster, PA

The double size house, portico, gabled dormers and wide chimneys suggest that there may be interesting architectural features inside.   It can only be hoped that some owner will take note of the history and beauty of this homestead and try to preserve it before it is too late.

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Anonymous
Melanie Weir
I have driven by this house for years and have wondered what's going on with it.  I know it's been vacant for some time.  Is it for sale?  I bet it is amazing inside and would love to get a look at it.  It would absolutely be my dream home!
Jan 19, 2008 01:42 PM
#23
Brian Schulman
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage, Lancaster PA - Lancaster, PA
Lancaster County PA RealEstate Expert 717-951-5552
Melanie, it's not for sale.  If it were, it would make a great listing.  I'd be excited to be able to restore it myself!
Jan 20, 2008 06:17 AM
M A
Boston, MA
It's terribly sad when history like this is forgotten and neglected.  It's such a beautiful piece of history.  I know it's not for sale but have you talked to the owners at all?
Jan 28, 2008 11:50 PM
Brian Schulman
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage, Lancaster PA - Lancaster, PA
Lancaster County PA RealEstate Expert 717-951-5552

Martin, I know what you mean.  I personally have a hard time understanding why so many people don't appreciate beautiful ancient homes like this. 

I believe it's owned by a developer - I'll have to do some research to find someone to talk to.

Jan 29, 2008 01:15 AM
Dottie Hicks
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage - Parkton, MD
ABR,CRS,GRI, Historic Homes Specialist

Brian,

I, too love, and specialize in historic homes, I am licensed in PA, but in the York County area.  I think you should check with your local historical society first, they will do the research and could submit it for application to the National Trust of Historic Homes, and they would know if it met the criteria or not.  Should it meet the criteria and be restored as a business there are fantastic taz benefits that could be reaped.  Would make it very appealing to a developer.  I live in Maryland and my home is on the National Register, it had been vacant and vandalized when I purchased it.  Great photos and it is a shame someone did not persue this prior to the purchase by a developer.  I do think that your local Historical Society should be where to start. It's nice to know that people out there do care about those wonderful homes of the past. Thanks for sharing,  

 

Jan 29, 2008 02:33 PM
Brian Schulman
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage, Lancaster PA - Lancaster, PA
Lancaster County PA RealEstate Expert 717-951-5552
Dottie, that's an excellent suggestion.  Years ago I was a member of the National Trust for Historic Preservation.  I restored a number of homes in Lancaster County myself.  Thanks for your comments.
Jan 29, 2008 11:12 PM
Dean Christiansen
EXIT Three Rivers Realty - Belle Plaine, MN

Brian, great photos. It would be a shame to see these buildings razed. They remind me of some of the abandoned farmsteads in outstate Minnesota. 

If you manage to sneak in and get some inside photos, we won't tell. I can only imagine some of the  wonderful old woodwork inside.

Feb 03, 2008 02:40 PM
Brian Schulman
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage, Lancaster PA - Lancaster, PA
Lancaster County PA RealEstate Expert 717-951-5552
I can imagine the woodwork myself, Dean.  This house is a quality homestead, if the original features are still extant.
Feb 03, 2008 02:51 PM
Anonymous
Historic Preservation Specialist - Lancaster County

I must correct Jeff, the property is owned by Armstrong Corporation.  At one time Armstrong was in negotiations with a developer to build a TND on the property - the developer was going to keep the historic buildings and restore them; however, that deal fell through when Armstrong went into bankruptcy.  i don't know what Armstrong Corp has planned.  By the way, there are two more historic houses and a lime kiln on the property.

Feb 05, 2008 07:46 AM
#31
Brian Schulman
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage, Lancaster PA - Lancaster, PA
Lancaster County PA RealEstate Expert 717-951-5552

Thanks for your input, Historic Preservation Specialist!  The other two houses and the lime kiln must be much farther back from the road.

Do you have any idea who at Armstrong would know what the plans are for the property?

Feb 05, 2008 08:21 AM
Brian Schulman
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage, Lancaster PA - Lancaster, PA
Lancaster County PA RealEstate Expert 717-951-5552

Here is the earlier photo that Jeff sent me of the home.  Note the beautiful original 12 over 8 windows!

Stone farm house, Lancaster, PA

Feb 08, 2008 09:52 AM
Anonymous
Chrissie

This may seem like a stupid question, but it is serious: I know many buildings can be either be entirely or partially deconstructed, then moved and reconstructed elsewhere, is it possible to do that with a stone structure such as this? It is my dream to live in a renovated stone farmhouse or even barn, but nothing is available in my area. It's a shame to see such a beautiful structure lost...I hope something can be done with it!

May 28, 2008 02:02 AM
#34
Brian Schulman
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage, Lancaster PA - Lancaster, PA
Lancaster County PA RealEstate Expert 717-951-5552

Chrissie, earlier in my career I tried a couple of times to save wonderful historic houses that were in locations that were being developed, and were slated for demolition.  It's extremely expensive to take a house apart and number each piece for later reconstruction.  It's also prohibively expensive to move a house - in the hundreds of thousands.  And that's to say nothing of the expense of purchasing a lot, excavating, getting utilities, and restoring.

It was way above anything that I could afford, and I was the most motivated person trying to save them.  In recent years, my goal has been to publicize historic houses that are in danger of being lost, and making a photographic record of them.

May 28, 2008 02:50 AM
Anonymous
Chrissie

Brian, thanks for the answer...and evn though you may not be able to save the physical structures, it is great that you take the time and effort to capture a photographic record of them! I have convinced my husband that our next home is going to be stone with loads of "character" and you can bet I will take inspiration from all the beautiful stone houses of the past. Pictures, such as yours, will be an invaluable resource to us, and in some way, once finished, our project will be a tribute to those historic homes!

May 31, 2008 05:41 AM
#36
Brian Schulman
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage, Lancaster PA - Lancaster, PA
Lancaster County PA RealEstate Expert 717-951-5552

Chrissie, what area are you in?

May 31, 2008 06:02 AM
Anonymous
Chrissie

Brian, I am in the northeastern corner of Illinois, and because of my proximity to the southeastern corner or Wisconsin, I would even consider moving there!   I have a list of "wants" for my dream home--stone, old house or barn renovation, a couple acres, in-ground pool and water front/water view (I know...) and I have actually found my dream property. Sadly, I forgot to include "affordable" in my list of desires, and it is far above what I can afford at this time.  At least I now know these sort of properties DO exist in this area, they're just hard to come by!  

Jun 11, 2008 08:58 AM
#38
Brian Schulman
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage, Lancaster PA - Lancaster, PA
Lancaster County PA RealEstate Expert 717-951-5552

Chrissie, if you keep searching, eventually your efforts will be rewarded!  Maybe you'll find one that's affordable because it needs work which you can do.  The water view is the factor that you may have to compromise on because that would command a prime asking price.

If I can ever be of service in the Lancaster County, PA area to you or someone you know, please let me know!

Jun 11, 2008 09:11 AM
Anonymous
Old Houses

 

The board is already off in the 2nd photo on the 1 story part.

May 09, 2011 07:28 AM
#41
Anonymous
Nancy Rohrer Sauder

Yes, this house has lots of history, and I know some of it very well.  I grew up in this house, with my five sisters and one brother.  The house isn't as old as someone guessed - the date stone on the west end (left end, looking at the front of the house) is from about 1804 and the east end is in the 1840's, if I remember correctly.  My parents, Elmer and Ruth Rohrer, owned the farm until about 1961, when they sold it to Armstrong World Industries.  They continued to rent the property from Armstrong until 1973, and then my brother and his family lived there until the late 70's.

We had grand dreams, but not enough money, to open some of the old fireplaces, expose some of the interior stone walls, and maximize the architectural beauty of that wonderful house.  My parents were the ones who installed an indoor bathroom (one bathroom for a family of 9 and usually some extas who stayed with us for one reason or another) and installed central heat (coal-fired hot water heat).  If the other families who lived there over the years were like mine, the walls could tell of lots of laughter, good times, and of course some tears.

Jul 13, 2012 02:55 PM
#42
Brian Schulman
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage, Lancaster PA - Lancaster, PA
Lancaster County PA RealEstate Expert 717-951-5552

Nancy, thanks for telling of your family connection to this great old farmhouse!  I'm glad to learn of some of the dates and details.  I had hoped at one time to be able to get it into private hands so it could be restored, and I still would be thrilled to be able to see it from the inside...

Jul 14, 2012 05:19 AM