Touring Western Pennsylvania’s Most Historic Homes

On July 23, a busload of PHLF members visited three of Western Pennsylvania’s most historic homes, all of which have survived to the present day due in part to PHLF’s help. The first stop was Woodville Plantation, the c. 1775 John and Presley Neville house in Collier Township, where PHLF Trustee Anne Genter, along with Rob Windhorst and Jim Galbraith of Neville House Associates, escorted the group on a tour of the beautifully restored and furnished Virginian vernacular house.   Woodville is one of only 10 National Historic Landmarks in Allegheny County.

After lunch, the group traveled to Canonsburg where architect Jonathan Glance described the first phase of restoration plans for the John Roberts House, begun as a log house in 1798, and being transformed into an arts center by the Washington County Cultural Trust.  The 1809 stone and 1840 brick portions of the house face North Central Avenue.

The trip concluded with a visit to “Plantation Plenty,” the Isaac Manchester Farm in Avella, Washington County, where Eugene Painter, a descendent of one of the members of the Lewis and Clark Expedition and Margie Manchester Pagliarulo, an eighth-generation descendent of Isaac Manchester, shared the rich history of the 215-year-old farm.

“It was great to show our friends how preservation tools like easements and planned gifts are helping to save these national treasures,” said Gift Planning and Easement Director Jack Miller.  “Hopefully, our members will spread the word on what they learned and encourage more people to consider similar preservation strategies.”

Click on any of the pictures for a gallery slideshow of the tour.