HomeMy WebLinkAbout1956.01.MEMORANDUM TO THE CUMBERLAND COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
In Re: The Duncan Mansion
Tho Situation: The Dunoan Mansion, Claremont Farms, is sohoduled for demolition to
make room for a new building. The County Commissioners consulted local
authorities and held a public mooting to givo tax payors a chance to spoak
bofore deciding upon the above action. Since that time national authorities
Mr. Earl Reed, National Chairman, Committoe on Presorvation of Historic
Buildings, American Institute of Architects; Dr. Milton S. Osborne, Chairman
Middle Atlantic Rogional Committoo on the Preservation of Historic Buildings
and a member of the faculty, Department of Architecture, The Ponnsylvania
State Univorsity; and Prosidont Richard H. Howland, National Trust for Historio
Preservation, ';fashington, D. C. - and local citizens have become informed and
concerned. Namos of some of the Carlisle citizons'aro on the enclosed list -
thoro are many others from all parts of the county. These have become informed
of the existence of tho mansion as an irreplaceable architectural treasure with
woodwork, especially mantels and stairway, which are of museum quality and aro
best preserved in the building of which they aro an integral part. Also through
Dr. Osborne and throe house moving contractors they have learnod that moving
tho house safely is possible as it is structurally sound. Thoy aro concerned,
all of them, lest a valuablo portion of our historic heritage bo destroyed
rather than proserved for coming gonorations.
Tho apparent indifforonoo of many citizens oomes from tho faot that they
havo never really soon tho mansion, oxoopt possibly from the outside. It must
bo rememberod that this has boon the County Homo for 130 yours and people do not
visit the home in largo numbors nor do they oxpoot to find a building the valuo
of this one at such a place. This doos not free the Commissioners from the re•
sponsibility of caring for such county property; rathor it lays upon them the
duty and privilogo of reconsidering their action in the light of tho now infor-
oration which has come to thom and saving tho historic mansion from destruotion.
Possiblo Action: Tho Commissioners can potition the Court (1) to vaoato tho demolition
order for tho mansion and (2) to substitute an order dirooting said Commissioners
to movo same to a place of safoty.
Possiblo Uses: Tho mansion could be usod as a meeting plaoe for the Claremont Farms
Auxiliary; as a mooting place for historical sociotios, patriotic and civic
groups from all parts of the county (such as Shipponsburg Historical Society,
Hamilton Library and Historical Society, Daughtors of 1812, D. A. R., oto.); and
as an adjunct to the Cumberland County School Systom. I.f rooms wore furnishod
by various localities with suitable antiquos in honor of ono or more of their
prominent oarly citizens (as for instance, Shippensburg - the Shippon or Hurd
Room; Carlisle - the Armstrong, Wilson or Blaine Room) school children would
find history come alivo for them. Visits by school children to the mansion
could bocome an important phaso of tho teaching of American History to our young-
sters and dovolop in thorn an intorost in our local history and a rospoct for
those early mon and women who have made our nation possible. Further, this
would bo a living, functional momorial to our ancestors, oven moro moaningful
than placquos or monuments, no mattor how beautiful suoh might be.
Administration and Maintonanco: Tho building should bo administered and maintained by
tho County Commissionors and an advisory committoo composod of representatives
of tho various interosted organizations as noted abovo. Financial assistanco
could bo aocoptod as available for restoration, furnishing and maintonanoe.