The "The Mansion @ 700 North Duke" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Standing in front of 700 North Duke Street in Lancaster, Pennsylvania taking a few photographs.  I can remember walking past this house, which my friend and I called the "Mansion", every Monday afternoon throughout the school year for a few years back in the early 1950s while a member of the Cub Scouts.  My friend Dave and I joined the Cub Scouts, since many of our friends from elementary school were also joining.  At the time we didn't realize we were closer to the Scout Pack in the city than the one where all our friends were joining.  

Color picture post card of the Mansion at 700 North Duke Street

 Didn't matter, since we were going to be scouts!  Dave stopped by every Monday after we got home from school and changed into our Scout uniforms, and we would walk the half-dozen blocks to Mrs. Wood's house on Duke Street.  And, on our way we passed "The Mansion."  Often stopped just to look at the huge place.  They had a pool in the back yard, but we never saw anyone swimming in it.  Over the past half-century it seemed to have changed hands many times, with it being law offices today.  

The same view of the Mansion today.

I recently saw an old color post card that featured the mansion and thought it was time for another visit to take a few photo- graphs.  "Googled" the mansion and found it was known as the Henry B. Keiper house when it was built in 1907.  The mansion that stands at the corner of Duke and New Streets in the city of Lancaster, Pennsylvania is now on the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission Cultural Resources Database.  

At one time the Mansion had a pool.  Couldn't see one
when I visited to take a few photographs.

Mr. Keiper was the President of the Champion Blower & Forge Company in Lancaster which was one of Lancaster's largest and most important industrial plants.  During World War I he was promin- ently identified with every patriotic movement, giving free of his time and money.  He helped in the formation of the Lancaster Marine Training Corps and gained the titled of "Major" for his work in its develpment.  

I saw this date displayed on metal work on the Mansion.

It was due to his activities in all local patriotic movements that he became widely known in State Militia circles.  He donated the Stand of Colors to the Lancaster Marine Training Corps at the outbreak of the war.  These flags now stand in St. John's Episcopal Church in downtown Lancaster.  

The garage in the rear of the Mansion is as large as some homes.

He also gave souvenirs to the boys who went from the National Guard into one of the Armed Forces.  He also gave frequently to the Pennsyl- vania Reserve Militia which was the successor to the National Guard.  At one time he had the officers of the Pennsylvania Reserve Militia to his Mansion on North Duke Street.

A vase or flower pot displays figures on its side.

 Mr. Keiper eventually had a paralytic attack and died.  He died in 1920 at the age of 62 and is buried in the Woodward Hill Cemetery in Lancaster.  Mr. Henry B. Keiper is best known for inventing the ball-bearing which lead to his wealth.  He is also known for devising a combination tool where he combined a vise, blower, forge, drill and grinder.  But, his big Mansion at 700 North Duke is what I will always remember the most.  It still looks as grand today as it did in the 1950s.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

The side facing North Duke St. list the name of the attorneys that work there.

The sign on East New Street says 700 North Duke.

Ornamentation resembles a face.

A pair of Lions protect this entrance.