Welcome to Victorian Christmas Past:
A Virtual Tour of Historic Mansions and Churches in Williamsport, Pennsylvania

 

2007 Victorian Christmas Mansion and Churches Tour

Cipolla House
428 W. Edwin (formerly Miele -Wood)
Anthony Cipolla - Current Owner
Williamsport, PA

Circ 1890's Victorian Façade with contemporary adaptations, handsome woodwork handcrafted by James Wood Company. Mahogany bath tub on 3 rd floor. Enhancing sky lights. Classic Queen Anne with steep gables. Many exterior ornamental features - turned posts, fretworks, Decorative shingles.

 


Cipolla House

Kieser House
713 Hepburn Street
Williamsport, PA

Large classic Queen Anne Victorian with large gables and a predominate tower. The house is built of brick with shingle decoration. The design of this house shows subtle Richardsonian Romanesque details into its overall façade. Interior oak and mahogany paneling packet doors and brick fireplaces with wooden surrounds.

 


Kieser House

LeVan House
878 West Fourth Street
Timothy Levan Owner
Williamsport, PA

Circa 1865 Built by Peter Herdic and sold to his accountant. Mr. LeVan is the 3rd owner. Second Empire style, deep cove moldings and center medallions in the interior Stylish double front doors with etched glass classic 2nd empire window cornices above each window. Original stucco. This styles hallmark is the flat roof with decorative slate roof sides with built in dormers.

 


LeVan House

David Stroehman House
711 Vallamont Drive

The Stroehmann Family residence owners. Spectacular brick house with tower in the French Norman influence. The house was designed by the well known Architect, Carl Tallman in the late 1920's. The exterior of the house is completely original and in excellent condition. The inter features handsome fireplaces, butler's pantry, fish pond and intriguing tower steps.

 


David Stroehman House

Thomas Taber Museum
858 West 4 th Street
(Centennial Exhibit 100 Years)
Williamsport, PA

Immerse yourself in local history at this intriguing museum, which charts the region's past through exhibits and memorabilia. From frontier days to the booming era of the Lumber Barons, the museum highlights Williamsport 's fortunes and vagaries. Hundreds of model trains also find their share of fans; some even make their way about the facility. Additional displays showcase 19th-century paintings, various town buildings, and period furnishings.

 


Thomas Taber Museum

Peter Herdic Transportation Museum
810 Nichols Place
Williamsport, PA

The Susquehanna River provided the means for Lycoming County 's explosive growth at the turn of the century. Come visit the Peter Herdic Transportation Museum and explore the rich traditions of the Susquehanna Valley from the time of the Susquehannock Indian Tribe to today's modern transportation systems. From the birch bark canoe to a fully restored GMC 1962 bus, it's an interesting tour back in time. PETER HERDIC TRANSPORTATION is behind Trinity Episcopal Church.

 


Peter Herdic Transportation Museum

Annunciation Catholic Church
700 W. Fourth Street
Williamsport, PA
Built 1886
Amos Wagner architect

The church has a multi-gabled slate roof and stonewalls with colored belt courses. There are forty-three arched stained glass windows. The entryway and entry doors are semi-circular. The bell tower is open with a decorative cornice and patterned stone. The center tower was capped when three workers fell to their deaths during construction. The interior has marble altars and Tiffany windows. Built on land donated by Peter Herdic, the local Irish community used Ralston Quarry sandstone to build this structure.

 

Annunciation
Annunciation Catholic Church

Christ Community Worship Center
436 West Fourth Street
Williamsport, PA

Originally Church of the Covenant and more recently St. Paul's Lutheran Church, this limestone structure has a center spire, bell tower and steeply pitched roof with stone finials. The windows are pointed and arched. It has the largest expanse of Tiffany stained glass in North  Central PA.

 

Christ Community Worship Center
Christ Community Worship Center

First Baptist Church
380 West Fourth Street
Williamsport, PA

Dedicated September 27, 1914, this historic downtown church was been served by 21 pastors and six interim pastors in three different buildings all built on the same corner of ground provided by Peter Herdic Peter's wife was a member of the congregation. The present church is known for its beautiful sanctuary and 39 unique stained glass windows.

 

First Baptist Church
First Baptist Church

Rowley House Museum
707 W. Fourth Street
Williamsport, PA
Built 1888, Eber Culver architect

Preservation Williamsport owners. Newspapers and books noted this house on one of the most architecturally important Queen Anne Victorian homes in Pennsylvania . Nothing was spared by Multimillionaire, Edwin A Rowley when he built this imposing structure in 1888. The mansion has just been painted in delightful colors of the era. The carved wood gable, protruding corner bay, projecting dormer and massive turned porch posts provide striking examples of the Queen Anne style. The roof has patterned slate, metal ridge caps, tall, decorative chimneys and large overhanging eaves. The brick has tile insets. Note the delicate wrought iron fence.

 

Rowley Hower Museum
Rowley House Museum

Durrwachter House Women's Museum
901 W. Fourth Street
Williamsport, PA

Late Victorian Queen Ann, completely custom designed with colonial revival influence. The outside of the house is original and boasts many stylistic features not found in the typical pattern book of the time. The house is now a women's museum of the 1800's Designed in 1890 by Amos Wagner and built for Henry Johnson, a state legislator from Muncy. Johnson moved to the city to help his six daughters find suitable husbands among the wealthy men of Williamsport. This home represents the Queen Anne style of architecture. The Johnson's were so please with Wagner's work they had him build a similar home next door on Maynard Street for one of their daughters!

 

Johnson-Lamade-Durrwachter House Museum
Durrwachter House Women's Museum

Trinity Episcopal Church
844 W. Fourth Street
Williamsport, PA
Built 1875, Webber, Culver and Thorn architects

Built with stone from the Bald Eagle Mountain at Muncy and brownstone from Chummiest it has the first nine bell Westminster chimes in America and a mural by Wetly Little. The church was paid for by Peter Herdic and given to Trinity Parish for one dollar as long as the pews remain "forever free". Note the pointed arches and windows, steeply pitched colored slate roof and 265-foot spire.

 

Trinity Episcopal Church
Trinity Episcopal Church

 

2006 Victorian Christmas Mansion and Churches Tour

Annunciation Catholic Church
700 W. Fourth Street
Williamsport, PA
Built 1886
Amos Wagner architect

The church has a multi-gabled slate roof and stonewalls with colored belt courses. There are forty-three arched stained glass windows. The entryway and entry doors are semi-circular. The bell tower is open with a decorative cornice and patterned stone. The center tower was capped when three workers fell to their deaths during construction. The interior has marble altars and Tiffany windows. Built on land donated by Peter Herdic, the local Irish community used Ralston Quarry sandstone to build this structure.

 

Annunciation

Annunciation Catholic Church

Peter Herdic Inn
411 West Fourth Street
Williamsport, PA


Recently purchased by the Miele's of the Herdic House Restaurant, this beautifully maintained home is now a bed and breakfast. The house contains many original gas light fixtures. Look particularly at the ornate dining room light. Also note the stained glass window at the top of the steps, the rounded panes in the turret and the servant call system in the kitchen.

 

Peter Herdic Inn
Peter Herdic Inn

Covenant Central Presbyterian Church
807 W. Fourth Street
Williamsport, PA


Built 1906 Richardson Romanesque, this stone building has a red tile roof, thick window lentils, large semi-circular arched entries, and three doors with stained glass fanlights. There are many arched stained glass windows. The corner towers have conical red tile roofs.

Covenant Central Presbyterian Church
Covenant Central Presbyterian Church

Durrwachter House Women's Museum
901 W. Fourth Street
Williamsport, PA

Designed in 1890 by Amos Wagner and built for Henry Johnson, a state legislator from Muncy. Johnson moved to the city to help his six daughters find suitable husbands among the wealthy men of Williamsport. This home represents the Queen Anne style of architecture. The Johnson's were so please with Wagner's work they had him build a similar home next door on Maynard Street for one of their daughters!

 

Johnson-Lamade-Durrwachter House Museum
Durrwachter House Women's Museum

 

Peter Herdic Double
942-944 W. Fourth Street
Williamsport, PA

This brick double house was built by Herdic in 1875 to encourage more families to move to West Fourth Street. It has a mansard roof (Second Empire) and a protruding center bay with a copula on top. The West side has arched windows but the East side has rectangular windows. The front porch trims differ. The porches were once mirror images of one another.

Peter Herdic Double
Peter Herdic Double

Payne House
1042 West Fourth Street
Williamsport, PA

Built circa 1870 for J. W. Payne, this is one of the few houses on Millionaires Row that has always been a single family dwelling. Take a look oat the chestnut woodwork and the elaborate crown molding in the parlor. There is a servant call box in the kitchen and the second floor sewing looks like oak but is actually painted.

 

The Payne House
Payne House

Cipolla House
201 East Third Street
Williamsport, PA 17701

Constructed in 1904-05, between the Victorian and the Arts and Crafts Period, this former Doctor's office and residence is a wonderful example of a town house. Purchased and refurbished by the present owners, the house reflects a resurgence of young professionals wanting to live in the city.

 

The Cipolla House
Cipolla House

Tonkin House
1513 Campbell Street
Williamsport, PA 17701

Built in 1932 by Harold Tonkin at the "end" of Campbell Street, this home was designed by Carl Tallman, an architect known for custom hillside homes. This ten room house was a quaint French cottage. The original pegged living room has been relocated to the library and the master bedroom. The dining room features a Waterford 1790 candle-lit chandelier. Especially for children is the Phillips collection of carousel horses.

The Tonkin House
Tonkin House

Chambers House
620 Vallamont Drive
Williamsport, PA

Built around 1894, The Arts and Crafts period (end of Victorian Era but maintaining solid craftsmanship) the original residents were the Chambers Family, local furniture shopkeepers.  They also owned the first car in Williamsport with a steering wheel and had 2 driveways to their home, one roofed and one for the 3 bay Carriage House.  The current owners have lived in the home since 2004.  The home has many interior historic features.

 

620 Vallamont Dr
Chambers House

Trinity Episcopal Church
844 W. Fourth Street
Williamsport, PA
Built 1875
Webber Culver and Thorn architects

Built with stone from the Bald Eagle Mountain at Muncy and brownstone from Chummiest it has the first nine bell Westminster chimes in America and a mural by Wetly Little. The church was paid for by Peter Herdic and given to Trinity Parish for one dollar as long as the pews remain "forever free". Note the pointed arches and windows, steeply pitched colored slate roof and 265-foot spire.

 

Trinity Episcopal Church
Trinity Episcopal Church
Christ Community Worship Center
436 West Fourth Street
Williamsport, PA 17701

Originally Church of the Covenant and more recently St. Paul's Lutheran Church, this limestone structure has a center spire, bell tower and steeply pitched roof with stone finials. The windows are pointed and arched. It has the largest expanse of Tiffany stained glass in North  Central PA.

 

Christ Community Worship Center
Christ Community Worship Center

First Baptist Church
380 West Fourth Street
Williamsport, PA 17701

Dedicated September 27, 1914, this historic downtown church was been served by 21 pastors and six interim pastors in three different buildings all built on the same corner of ground provided by Peter Herdic Peter's wife was a member of the congregation. The present church is known for its beautiful sanctuary and 39 unique stained glass windows.

 

First Baptist Church
First Baptist Church
Rowley House Museum
707 W. Fourth Street
Williamsport, PA
Built 1888 Eber
Culver architect

The carved wood gable, protruding corner bay, projecting dormer and massive turned porch posts provide striking examples of the Queen Anne style. The roof has patterned slate, metal ridge caps, tall, decorative chimneys and large overhanging eaves. The brick has tile insets. Note the delicate wrought iron fence.

 

Rowley Hower Museum
Rowley House Museum

 

2005 Victorian Christmas Mansion and Churches Tour

The Hiram Rhoads House
522 West Fourth Street
Williamsport, PA
 

The Hiram Rhoads House is yet another house designed by Eber Culver in the late 1880's for Hiram Rhoads, the man who first brought the telephone to Williamsport. This building is an example of the Queen Anne style, a design that Culver stated in his autobiography, was probably the most successful in his career. This house has many notable feature such as an upstairs bathtub which is encased in mahogany, a solid pecan floor in the living room, and the most magnificent chandeliers in Williamsport.

 

Hiram Rhoads House
Hiram Rhoads House

Annunciation Catholic Church
700 W. Fourth Street
Williamsport, PA
Built 1886

Amos Wagner architect The church has a multi-gabled slate roof and stonewalls with colored belt courses. There are forty-three arched stained glass windows. The entryway and entry doors are semi-circular. The bell tower is open with a decorative cornice and patterned stone. The center tower was capped when three workers fell to their deaths during construction. The interior has marble altars and Tiffany windows. Built on land donated by Peter Herdic, the local Irish community used Ralston Quarry sandstone to build this structure.

 

Annunciation
Annunciation Catholic
Church
Rowley House Museum
707 W. Fourth Street
Williamsport, PA
Built 1888
Eber Culver architect

The carved wood gable, protruding corner bay, projecting dormer and massive turned porch posts provide striking examples of the Queen Anne style. The roof has patterned slate, metal ridge caps, tall, decorative chimneys and large overhanging eaves. The brick has tile insets. Note the delicate wrought iron fence.

 

Rowley Hower Museum
Rowley House Museum
Elias Deemer House
711 West Fourth Street
Williamsport. PA
Built 1887

Again this home was designed and built by Eber Culver in 1887 for Elias Deemer, a lumberman. Another example of Culver's Queen Anne style of architecture with 17 rooms and cherry woodwork.

 

Elias Deemer House
Elias Deemer House
Covenant Central Presbyterian Church
807 W. Fourth Street
Williamsport, PA
Built 1906
Richardson Romanesque

This stone building has a red tile roof, thick window lentils, large semi-circular arched entries, and three doors with stained glass fanlights. There are many arched stained glass windows. The corner towers have conical red tile roofs.

 

Covenant Central Presbyterian Church
Covenant Central
Presbyterian Church

Trinity Episcopal Church
844 W. Fourth Street
Williamsport, PA
Built 1875
Eber Culver and Thorn architects

Built with stone from the Bald Eagle Mountain at Muncy and brownstone from Hummelstown, it has the first nine bell Westminster chimes in America and a mural by Westly Little. The church was paid for by Peter Herdic and given to Trinity Parish for one dollar as long as the pews remain "forever free". Note the pointed arches and windows, steeply pitched colored slate roof and 265-foot spire.

 

Annunciation
Trinity Episcopal Church

Johnson-Lamade-Durrwachter House Museum
901 W. Fourth Street
Williamsport, PA

Designed in 1890 by Amos Wagner and built for Henry Johnson, a state legislator from Muncy. Johnson moved to the city to help his six daughters find suitable husbands among the wealthy men of Williamsport. This home represents the Queen Anne style of architecture. The Johnson's were so please with Wagner's work they had him build a similar home next door on Maynard Street for one of their daughters!

 

Johnson-Lamade-Durrwachter House Museum
Johnson-Lamade-
Durrwachter House Museum

Harrar House
915 W. Fourth Street
Williamsport, PA

Built for Lucy Eutermarks as a wedding gift from her parents in the early 1870's. Designed by Eber Culver in the Italianate design. The house was originally assigned 913 West Fourth Street, but  the brides parents thinking this was unlucky had the house number changed to 915!

 

Harrar House
Harrar House

Overheiser - Hoagland - Kane House
849 Louisa Street
Williamsport, PA

This Queen Anne style home was built in 1893 for David Overheiser who owned a lumber planing mill on Walnut Street . This was also home to the Mayor of Williamsport in the 1920's (Hoagland). The exterior features multiple steep pitched gables and dormers, stained glass windows, the original slate roof, and very rare colored slate designs that encompass the entire face of each gable. This house was the first on this particular block of very interesting and original Victorian houses. The interior features all original golden oak woodwork and a very ornate staircase. There are 7 original bedrooms, front and back parlors, fireplace, front and back staircases, dining room, and large family kitchen. The land for this house was originally part of the Mingle Farm which was divided into large lots for housing development as Williamsport expanded north out of the flood plane and into the beautiful wooded area known as Old Oaks Park.

 

David Overheiser House
Overheiser - Hoagland -
Kane House

Easton - Carson House
826 Glenwood Ave
Williamsport, PA

The Easton - Carson House was designed by Wagner & Reitmeyer Architect Co. and was completed in the Vallamont Land Development in 1895 for Robert Easton, a supervisor of Williamsport's Coryell Machine Co. The Queen-Ann home remained in the Easton family for 55 years. The family's home included one of the first open decks in Williamsport and made use of combination gas/electric lights due to electricity's reputation as unreliable. Other notable features are the home's antique chandeliers and 28 distinct wallpapers. This home is featured in the October 2005 edition of Victorian Homes Magazine.

Carson House
Easton - Carson House

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