Leidy Home
Stone Homes Tour “Tales and Trails from log to stone on the rural frontier� (Welsh Run-Mercersburg Communities) DeSmet Home
Hartung Home
16 Reed Home
Stevens Home
Map of Stone Homes Tour If you do not have GPS and need driving directions, please contact Conococheague Institute with the order in which you want to visit the houses. Conococheague will email or mail your driving directions. Conococheague Institute Phone Number: 717-328-3467
Thank you for helping to keep history alive! 20
Sunday, Oct. 15 1PM-5PM A self-driving tour to 5 stone homes For the Conococheague Institute, a non-profit historical organization in the Welsh Run community. For more information, call 717-328-3467.
All proceeds benefit the building of an outdoor bake oven at the site.
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Thank You to this year’s Stone Home Tour Homeowners: Paul & Stacy DeSmet Family Bob & Kathy Hartung David & Tracey Leidy Family
Dr. Paula (Stoner) Reed Matt & Megan Stevens Family
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Living History Demonstrations By: Chris Souders Bill Donaldson Melanie Desmond David Moore Grace & Blair Boscolo Pam Knepper Karen & Dale Thatcher
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Contributing Artists: Laura Schindle Kevin Rice Eliane Ambrose Glen Sabetto Dr. Kathy McCloskey
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9210 Buchanan Trail West Mercersburg, PA 17236
Paul & Stacy DeSmet
“Shela’s Garden Spot” Although a land warrant was issued in 1741 to Alexander Brown, it wasn’t until the 1789 Patent Index that Jospeh Miller named a 142-acre tract of land “Shela’s Garden Spot.” It seems this name was lost to history until early 2017 when the current owner traced the history of the farm. Shela’s Garden Spot, in its current form, is a farm containing 71 acres, a large bank barn, shed, and a beautifully maintained 2-story stone home. The property backs up to the West Branch of the Conococheague and teams with wildlife. The original house has been dated to circa-1800, and efforts are underway to identify an exact year of construction and the owner at that time. It is estimated that an addition was constructed in the mid-1800’s, and a modern addition constructed in the 1980’s. Although extensive remodeling was completed in the 1980’s, an update is currently in progress. Most recently, a laundry room remodel revealed a summer kitchen with original brick hearth, and the home’s original wood floor was discovered under layers of carpeting, tile, and modern wood flooring.
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8920 Blue Spring Road Mercersburg, PA 17236
Bob and Kathy Hartung
“Arrowhead House” The home was originally built around 1790 as a two bedroom home. Around the early 1800’s, another story was added. James Stuart received a patent for this land on the 22nd day of November 1809. James was a Revolutionary War soldier under Capt. William Huston. Stuart made his will the 9th day of April 1813 and died the 20th of April. He left his property to his brother Charles. In his will James names brothers Charles and Andrew also named were John,William and James Rankin, sons of his sister Mary. Mary was married to William Rankin on February 28, 1774 by Rev. John King. The home sets on 150 acres.
5605 Steele Avenue Mercersburg, PA 17236
David & Tracey Leidy
Though unknown at this time, the house was most likely built in the late 1700’s by German immigrants. The property lies roughly five miles south of Mt. Parnell. It is believed that two other homes in the area were constructed by the same builder. Around 1991, a fire that began on the first floor in the center of the house, caused extensive damage. In 1997 the building underwent a total restoration that took 3 ½ years. Very little metal was used in the original construction of the house. The house was assembled with mortise and tenon joints, held together with wooden pins. All nails and screws used in constructing the house, and additionally the hardware on the doors, were hand made. The current dining room of the home originally served as a kitchen. In this room a small window faces the rising sun. A unique feature of the original house is that every room has a fireplace. The Leidy family was told by a professional chimney sweep, that the fireplaces are of a Count Rumford design. When the Leidy family purchased the residence, mussel shells were found beneath the floorboards of the kitchen. These shells are thought to have been received in trade from local Indians. The room directly above the kitchen served as a nursery. Believed to ward off evil spirits, hex signs were placed by each entrance, including: the fireplace mantel, window jambs, and door. During the restoration of the home, numerous artifacts such as: clay marbles, colonial period coins, Indian relics, jewelry, and a turkey rib toothbrush were discovered. Serving as a constant source of water, several natural springs are an additional feature of the property.
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9685 Anderson Road Mercersburg, PA 17236 Discovering “Irwinton”
Dr. Paula (Stoner) Reed
Irwinton, a ca. 1778 stone house, part of a flour mill complex, stands along the Conococheague Creek near Mercersburg in Franklin County, Pennsylvania. Scotch-Irish Presbyterian settlers began populating what was to become Franklin County in the 1730s. James Irwin arrived as part of this group and accumulated land in the vicinity of present-day Mercersburg. His son, Archibald took up 217 acres along the Conococheague Creek and by 1766 was operating a flour and saw mill. Presumably he lived in a log house near the mill. By the time of the American Revolution, Archibald Irwin’s mill became an important provisioning station for the Continental Army serving in western Pennsylvania. Archibald Irwin worked for the Army’s quartermaster. His eldest son, James, served in the Revolution as commissary, and traveled and lodged in and around Philadelphia. In the later 1770s or toward the end of the war in October of 1781, Archibald built a large and grand house with extraordinarily exuberant woodwork reminiscent of Philadelphia’s finest houses of the 1750s and 1760s. Could Irwinton’s fancy, but slightly out-of-date interior woodwork have been inspired by Archibald’s son James’ time in Philadelphia? Did wealth accumulated through buying and selling of supplies for the Army pay for such an extravagant building in the late 1770s, in an area where in 1798 over 90% of the population was living in small log dwellings? Explore the possible motives for Archibald Irwin’s design and construction of such a house, a rarity in 1770s Franklin County (Cumberland County until 1786) and examine changes over time that brought the house to its current state.
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Matt & Megan Stevens
12514 Garnes Road Mercersburg, PA 17236
This early American, stone and brick home is being lovingly restored by Matt and Megan Stevens and their family. The home is believed to have been built around 1735. They bought the home 20 years ago and it was unlivable at the time. It had been abandoned for 10 years with teens and animals making it their great hangout. The couple worked on the restoration while living a year in Greencastle with Megan’s parents, Karen and Dale Thatcher whom were also restoring a 1774 stone home. After a year, they had a bedroom and a bathroom completed and they moved in. The dishes were washed in the tub until the kitchen was finished a year later. Slowly the couple completed the remaining rooms in the home with great consideration being given to the children that were born and having a room ready for each of them. Through the years, the kids also took interest in furniture refinishing, building stone walls, and home restoration. The love of the time period and the hard work in the home, have been infused into all aspects of the Stevens restoration and family time. It is believed that on March 21, 1745, William Penn sold this land to Richard Peter’s the elder. He sold the land to his sons and heirs, William Peters and Richard Peters the younger. They sold to William Maxwell on September 17, 1745. He in turn, sold that same tract of land with a few additional acres to William Duffield, on October 14, 1764. The stone home was built on the land at this time.Perhaps there was a log dwelling before that, but that is an assumption. 11 other families owned the home before Matt and Meg were able to purchase their dream house. It is not a finished restoration, but it has come a long way since the first house tour it was on over a decade ago. We hope you enjoy the history.
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Beautiful & H istoric Landmark s During the Stone Home Tour, several beautiful and historic landmarks are along the way. Stop and enjoy the beauty of the Mercersburg-Welsh Run area!
Ston e Arch Bridge
An derson Mill
Anderson Mill, originally called Irvington Mill after the man that built it, Irwin Archibald, has two water turbines. In 1917, the mill was purchased by Chester Anderson. Anderson’s son, Harry ran the mill until 1980 and the mill made flour through the 1950’s. The mill no longer runs but is still in runable condition.
Directions: The bridge is located 2 miles off Route 16 on Anderson Road
The Stone Arch Bridge is a double humped bridge owned by Franklin County that was originally built between 1810 and 1813 by William Maxwell Brown. Brown married Ben Chambers’ youngest daughter. The bridge crosses the Conococheague Creek at the west branch.
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Directions: The mill is located 2 miles off Route 16 on Anderson Road
Whith erspoon Bridge
Directions: The bridge is located about a 1/3 of a mile upstream from Anderson Mill
• The bridge, located in Montgomery Township, was originally called The Red Bridge • Whitherspoon Bridge stands over Licking Creek where it flows into the Conococheague Creek • Both Stone Arch and Whitherspoon Bridge are part of the Hayes Bridge Historical District established July 31, 1978 and are part of the National Register of Historic Places.
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Conococheague Institute 12995 Bain Road, Mercersburg, PA 717-328-3467 www.cimlg.org Located at the Rock Hill Farm in the community of Welsh Run between Mercersburg and Greencastle. The Conococheague Institute (pronounced CONICA, rhymes with Monica, JIG, like the Irish dance) is a 30-acre historic site with 18th-and 19th century log houses and outbuildings, a German foursquare garden, a visitors center, a rose garden, gift shop with colonial-style toys and games, and wilderness walking trails with access to a pioneer cemetery dating to the 1760s. The Conococheague Institute’s mission is to interpret the 18th and 19th frontier settlements along the Conococheague Creek in Pennsylvania, Maryland and Virginia. The grounds are open daily from dawn to dusk and are open for tours Monday-Friday 8AM-5PM.
Negley House Update The Negley House, which stood since the first decades of the 19th Century and is located at the institute, burned to the ground February 26, 2016. Through the support of the community and through donations, the exterior of the Negley House is finished! Work is now being done on the cabin’s glass windows, interior work and furnishings.
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! m u Y ? n e v O e k a An Outdoor B Yum, the smell of baking bread! These ovens are defined as a masonry oven built of stone or brick consisting of a baking chamber made of fireproof bricks, clay, concrete, or stone. It is traditionally wood-fired although coal-fire ovens were common in the 19th century. The ovens often existed in small communities, providing freshly baked bread for the landowner and his family. This family in turn offered their services to others in the community who had no oven. Research and the unearthing of bricks this summer near the Negley Cabin prove an outdoor bake oven was once a vital part of its inhabitants lives. Our fundraiser is an attempt to bring this concept back to life. It could serve in numerous ways, including using the aroma of baking bread to draw visitors and in turn, lure them back. Other foods such as pizzas could be a “hot item” and would help pay for this building project. The oven could serve as an excellent teaching tool for home-schooled and public-school students and others visiting the site. Demonstrations cause hands on experiences and are some of the best teachers. Come and join the Stone Home Tour and help fund this exciting project!
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Open 7 Days a Week!
Subs Salads Hot Sandwiches Cold Sandwiches Paninis Wraps Homemade Soups Platters Soft Serve Ice Cream Custard & Yogurt Italian Ice
Want to find your Franklin County
Antiques, Collectibles & Decorative Accessories
ROOTS ?
• Weddings • Reunions • Business Meetings • Proms • Fundraisers and other Special Events...
Genealogist James Houpt • Author of 30 books of Franklin County history • Extensive knowledge of area histories • $15 a hour
Green Grove Gardens is situated on 40 acres of astounding gardens, manicured lawns, several unique water features and breathtaking views of the Tuscarora Mountains. Our beautifully renovated barn features hardwood floors and elegant chandeliers. 1032 Buchanan Trail East, Greencastle, PA 717-597-0800 www.greengrovegardens.com Like us on Facebook!
144 East Baltimore St. Greencastle, PA 17225 717 593 9990 Hours: Wed - Fri 10:00 - 5:00 Saturday 10:00 - 4:00 Shopkeeper: Chris Johnston
5859 Penrose Court, Port Orange, Fl., 32127 Phone: 386.7564253 Email: jhoupt64@aol.com
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Dine & Support Conococheague Institute! 10% off all sales Oct. 15 at the following places will be donated to Conococheague Institute for the Bake Oven Project!
6 Ticket Sales Locations Tuscarora Area Chamber of Commerce 3 S. Main St. Mercersburg, PA 17236
717-328-5827
Greencastle-Antrim Chamber of Commerce 217 E. Baltimore St. Greencastle, PA 17225
717-597-4610 5 N. Main Street Mercersburg, PA 17236 717.328.5011
Washington County Convention & Visitors Center 16 Public Square Hagerstown, MD 17240
301-791-3246 155 S. Antrim Way Greencastle, PA 17225 717.643.0218
The tour is a self-guided driving tour and includes living history at each home.
Check online at www.cimlg.org for more locations! 14
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Snider’s Jewelers Inc.
339 N. Main St. Mercersburg, PA
Specializing in Custom Design and Repair Services! 717-328-2005 www.SnidersJewelers.com Celebrating 41 Years
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Staff of Conococheague Institute: Clifford Smith Mary Hartman Rachel Nichols Lucas Lapole
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Thank you to all volunteers!
Great moments all year-long in Franklin County! THE BURNING
July 21, 2018
4: Burning Civil War re-enactment of the 186 it’s ablaze! & Rebirth...so real, you’ll think
IceFest ‘18
Other members, non-members & community businesses who helped in any way
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Fall Festivals
The Members of the Home Tour Committee:
Jan. 25-28, 2018 80+ ice sculptures, live carving, food, vendors & Chili Cookoff!
Tour Guides Parking Attendants Living History Demonstrators Contributing Artists Flannery’s Public House John Allison Public House
Fall festivals, pumpkin picking, corn mazes from September until early November!
866.646.8060 |717.552.2977 ExploreFranklinCountyPA.com Facebook.com/FCVBen |Twitter.com/FCVB
Gay Buchanan Dr. John Stauffer Susan Hebert Karen Thatcher
Dr. Mark Divelbiss Linda Hissong Calvin Bricker
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