The "Roslyn...The Mansion With Charm In Historical Lancaster County, Pennsylvania" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Visiting one of Lancaster County's finest homes known as Rosalyn Mansion.  Remarkable place and it is just so beautiful that I just had to walk back to my car and grab my camera to take a few photographs of the mansion to share with you.  Hope you enjoy the photos and the story that follows.....

It was on May 10, 1729 that German immigrants, known as Pennsylvania Dutch (from "Deutsch" meaning German) settled in the area where I now live.  It was known at the time as "Hickory Town,"  The Honorable James Hamilton laid it out in building lots, and it soon became the county seat.  Lancaster County, as it became known, is in southern Pennsylvania, on the Susquehanna River.  The city of Lancaster is known for its red-brick Central Market building.  North of the city, Landis Valley Village & Farm Museum evokes a traditional German settlement.  One of Lancaster's best known architects is Mr. C. Emlen Urban, who was a "classical architect" who used this style quite often.  One of Lancaster's best known mansions is the Urban designed "Roslyn Mansion" which stands majestically on North President Avenue to the West of the city of Lancaster.  An iron gate and fence surrounds the 1896 mansion which was designed and built by Mr. Urban for Lancaster County's Watt & Shand co-founder, Peter T. Watt of Watt & Shand fame.  The mansion was purchased over six years ago by Dr. Gaspare Polizzi and Barbara O'Neill.  Once they had the keys, they spent six years renovating the 9,320-square foot mansion into their home.  The house was a manor in disrepair.  Leaks caused extensive damage to walls and floors.  Only one toilet was in working condition while another had sunk partially into the floor.  Leaks had caused extensive damage while outside, the large pond was failing

 and vegetation damaged the massive porch.  As I stood in front of it today to take a few photographs, it is now a commanding, powerful, undeniably finely designed and very, very well constructed building.  "Roslyn Mansion" refused to succumb to time and neglect.  During recent tours, the owners asked for no photos to be taken inside with one exception: a designated spot on the grand staircase, surrounded by original woodwork.  The story in the Lancaster Newspaper said that the couple personally removed debris from the home along with "miles and miles and miles" of carpeting and plenty of plants covering the brick patio outside.  The contractor for all this work was J.R. Fulmer & Sons out of New Providence.  I have driven past the mansion for half-a-century and have marveled at the gorgeous home on North President Ave., catty-cornered from the Lancaster Historical Society and President James Buchanan's historical home known as "Wheatland."  Mr. Urban did a majestic job when he designed "Roslyn" in 1896.  I totally enjoyed skirting the home with my camera, snapping photos of the exterior of the 33-room mansion.  There is a carriage house next to the mansion, but it was sub-divided and sold to another buyer.  Hope you enjoy the photographs.  If you happen by the residence, checkout the beautiful home that carries quite a bit of Lancaster County history.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

PS - Roslyn's new owners found it by accident.  They came to Lancaster from New York to stay while looking into buying Brooke mansion in Birdsboro, Berks County.  The 1888 home was filled with fine woodwork yet 14,000 square feet was too big for what they wanted in a retirement home.  While still in Lancaster, they mentioned they were looking for an old home. A tip lead them to Roslyn, a much more manageable home with 33 rooms.  The property's carriage house was subdivided and the couple purchased the main house.  Welcome to Lancaster...The Red Rose City!