Pearl S. Buck House, Perkasie HAUNTED HOTELS Historic hotels boast undeniable charm and enchanting details, from elegant crown molding to antique tin ceilings, but beyond the quaint touches, roaring fireplaces, and four-poster beds, these relic buildings also boast a treasure trove of stories: stories about General George Washington and the American Revolutionary War, stories of Confederate and Union soldiers, and even stories about ghosts from the past. From strange sounds in the night to sightings of the spiritual kind, history seems to come to life in a supernatural way. Are the legends true? Find out for yourself by staying a night at one of these so-called haunted locales. Jean Bonnet Tavern (est. 1762) 6048 Lincoln Hwy., Bedford jeanbonnettavern.com Historic Hotel Bethlehem (est. 1794) 437 Main St., Bethlehem hotelbethlehem.com The Inn at Jim Thorpe (est. 1833) 24 Broadway, Jim Thorpe innjt.com The Wedgwood Inn Bed & Breakfast (est. 1870) 111 W. Bridge St., New Hope wedgwoodinn.com The Cashtown Inn (est. 1815) 1325 Old Rte. 30, Orrtanna cashtowninn.com 5 By Lisa Duchene HISTORIC HOMES While imprisoned during the Civil War, Colonel Clarence G. Jackson dreamed of the home he would build. The Jackson Mansion in Berwick remains an enduring gem of Victorian architecture, built of Vermont stone with hand-carved trim and handmade tile decorating its fireplaces. The 18 rooms of the Asa Packer Mansion Museum in Jim Thorpe look almost as they did when the Packers lived there from 1861 until 1912. A cast-iron frame supports its three stories and central cupola, overlooking charming, historic Old Mauch Chunk Historic District. See the 1825 farmhouse, picturesque estate and desk where Pearl S. Buck — the first woman to earn both the Pulitzer and Nobel prizes for literature — penned her novel, “The Good Earth,” at the Pearl S. Buck House in Perkasie. Ascend the staircase of the 1911 Mary Stegmaier Mansion in Wilkes-Barre to see the stunning floral-patterned, blue art glass ceiling of the solarium below. Owner Joseph Matteo has restored “The Mary” to its original grandeur, as well as his nearby Frederick Stegmaier Mansion. Mega-Mansions & Once homes of the wealthy and talented, our mansions and historic homes are so much more than buildings. They are labors of love, works of art, time-worn memorials, visual feasts, and time capsules. Sink into Victorian grandeur among the wood carvings, stained glass, 12 fireplaces, and stately ballroom of the Watson-Curtze Mansion in Erie. Roofing paper magnate Harrison Watson built this glorious 3.5-story brownstone mansion and carriage house in 1891. With ample doors and windows, a six-column façade, and elaborate trim work, the Baker Mansion History Museum in Altoona showcases superior craftsmanship. See the 1849 dream home ironmaster Elias Baker built his family for about $15,000, now home to the Blair County Historical Society. Savor central Pennsylvania’s finest flavors — pan-seared half duckling in bourbon-maple reduction and locally smoked shad, a Williamsport specialty — in an opulent Victorian dining room at the Peter Herdic House Restaurant & Inn , and then slumber at the adjacent beautifully restored Victorian on Millionaire’s Row. The Cashtown Inn, Orrtanna PHOTOS: (this page, from top) courtesy of Bucks County/Pearl Buck; courtesy of Destination Gettysburg; courtesy of The Wedgwood Inn; The Wedgwood Inn, New Hope (facing page from top) credit Visit Hershey & Harrisburg; istockphoto/bookwyrmm; Photo by G. Widman for Visit Philadelphia™; istockphoto/AK2 visitPA.com 15
Pennsylvania PA 2017 Happy Traveler: Page 15
