The "Catherine Haldeman Long Mansion Lives On In Downtown Lancaster, PA" Story

The Catherine Haldeman Long Mansion which is now The Hamilton
Club at Duke & Orange Streets in Lancaster, PA. Click on images to enlarge.

It was an ordinary day.  Stand- ing in front of the Cather- ine Halde- man Long Mansion at the south-east corner of East Orange and North Duke Streets in downtown Lancaster snapping some photographs of what is now known as the Hamilton Club.  On the wall outside the entrance on Orange Street is an oval plaque that tells that this building is #61 on the Historic Preservation Trust Site list in Lancaster County.  The building was constructed in the Chateauesque style in 1891 for the daughter of wealthy Lancaster attorney and Judge Henry Long.  

Early photo taken of the west side of the mansion.
Notice the old cars lining the street.

The address of the building is 106 East Orange Street.  Behind me is my church, St. James Episcopal which was established in 1744.  Catherine's father, Henry G. Long, president judge of the Lancaster County Court of Common Pleas from 1851 to 1871 died in 1889.  His estate plan called for the construction of an exquisite three-story, all cut-stone mansion to be built at the southeast corner of North Duke and East Orange Streets.  The architecture was inspired by the French Renaissance.  

Current photo showing the same side
of the mansion as the one above it.

Attainable by only the upper reaches of Lancaster's society, Chateauesque was characterized by castle-like features including towers, conical roofs, tall chimneys, roof cresting, carvings, gargoyles and grotesques. The complexities of this building were so numerous that only the most talented architects would undertake the task of designing this style.  The architect or general contractor responsible for this masterpiece is unknown.  C. Emlen Urban would have been able to design a building such as the Haldeman Long Mansion, but it may be a few years to early for him to have been considered the architect.  Catherine lived in the mansion until her death around 1900.  As early as 1901 the Hamilton Club, a club for the very wealthy of Lancaster, considered the mansion as the perfect venue for their club.  

Beautiful architecture!

The club's bid on the property failed.  Then in 1912 the property became available once again, but the club's bid was still not enough.  A short time later on April 12 of 1912 the Hamilton Club's offer of $43,800 was successful.  Five years later the club's membership totaled 213.  

Stained glass windows can be seen in several places.

The Club added amenities over the years with a major renovation in 1953.  Today the Hamilton Club's exterior still exudes its grand character while the rich interior detailing, including ornate millwork and glazed handmade floor tiles, retains the original personality of an amazing gift to Catherine Haldeman Long as well as the city of Lancaster, PA.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

Entrance along Orange Street.

Front door of The Hamilton Club.

Outside the front door.