William B. Dunlap Mansion
Encyclopedia
The William B. Dunlap Mansion is a historic house in Bridgewater
, Pennsylvania
, United States
. Erected in 1840 on a bluff over the Beaver River
in the northern part of the borough, it has been ranked as the grandest and best-preserved 19th-century house in Bridgewater.
The mansion was built for coffee entrepreneur James Arbuckle, whose architect employed the Greek Revival
style of architecture. Arbuckle lived in the house until 1865, when he sold it to Samuel R. Dunlap and his family. Among the mansion's new residents was Samuel's son William
, who ran his river transportation
business from the house. Upon Samuel's death in 1890, the house passed into William; he continued to reside at the property until his own death in 1922. During these years, the house was the home of a public official: William was elected to represent the 46th District
in the Pennsylvania State Senate
in 1890, and he remained in this position until his death. After his death, the house passed through the hands of few owners; it changed ownership very few times and was only rarely vacant, and thus it has seen less change than most period houses. Except for a period as the home of a veterans'
organization, the mansion has always been used as a residence, although would-be buyers sought to convert it into offices or a print shop
.
Dunlap's mansion is a three-story brick structure built on a stone foundation, with four large chimneys and a cedar
interior. Although the house is currently surrounded by a lawn and shrubs, it was once surrounded by a formal garden that may have been larger than any other such garden in western Pennsylvania
.
In 1980, the house was added to the National Register of Historic Places
for its architecture and for its association with William B. Dunlap. It is also a contributing property
to a historic district
, the Bridgewater Historic District
, which was listed on the National Register in 1996.
Bridgewater, Pennsylvania
Bridgewater is a borough in Beaver County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 739 at the 2000 census. It is best known as the home of the Bruster's Ice Cream chain. A few scenes in the 1986 movie Gung Ho were also shot in Bridgewater...
, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Erected in 1840 on a bluff over the Beaver River
Beaver River (Pennsylvania)
The Beaver River is a tributary of the Ohio River in Western Pennsylvania in the United States with a length of approximately 21 mi . It flows through a historically important coal-producing region north of Pittsburgh...
in the northern part of the borough, it has been ranked as the grandest and best-preserved 19th-century house in Bridgewater.
The mansion was built for coffee entrepreneur James Arbuckle, whose architect employed the Greek Revival
Greek Revival architecture
The Greek Revival was an architectural movement of the late 18th and early 19th centuries, predominantly in Northern Europe and the United States. A product of Hellenism, it may be looked upon as the last phase in the development of Neoclassical architecture...
style of architecture. Arbuckle lived in the house until 1865, when he sold it to Samuel R. Dunlap and his family. Among the mansion's new residents was Samuel's son William
William B. Dunlap
William Boyd Dunlap was a former Democratic member of the Pennsylvania State Senate.He worked as a riverboat captain. He was a delegate to the 1876 Democratic National Convention. He represented the 46th senatorial district in the Pennsylvania State Senate from 1891 to 1894.William B...
, who ran his river transportation
Riverboat
A riverboat is a ship built boat designed for inland navigation on lakes, rivers, and artificial waterways. They are generally equipped and outfitted as work boats in one of the carrying trades, for freight or people transport, including luxury units constructed for entertainment enterprises, such...
business from the house. Upon Samuel's death in 1890, the house passed into William; he continued to reside at the property until his own death in 1922. During these years, the house was the home of a public official: William was elected to represent the 46th District
Pennsylvania Senate, District 46
Pennsylvania's 46th Senatorial district includes parts of Allegheny, Beaver, Greene, Washington, and Westmoreland Counties.Part of Allegheny County* Elizabeth* Forward Township* McDonald * West ElizabethPart of Beaver County...
in the Pennsylvania State Senate
Pennsylvania State Senate
The Pennsylvania State Senate has been meeting since 1791. It is the upper house of the Pennsylvania General Assembly, the Pennsylvania state legislature. The State Senate meets in the State Capitol building in Harrisburg. Senators are elected for four year terms, staggered every two years such...
in 1890, and he remained in this position until his death. After his death, the house passed through the hands of few owners; it changed ownership very few times and was only rarely vacant, and thus it has seen less change than most period houses. Except for a period as the home of a veterans'
Veteran
A veteran is a person who has had long service or experience in a particular occupation or field; " A veteran of ..."...
organization, the mansion has always been used as a residence, although would-be buyers sought to convert it into offices or a print shop
Printer (publisher)
In publishing, printers are both companies providing printing services and individuals who directly operate printing presses. With the invention of the moveable type printing press by Johannes Gutenberg around 1450, printing—and printers—proliferated throughout Europe.Today, printers are found...
.
Dunlap's mansion is a three-story brick structure built on a stone foundation, with four large chimneys and a cedar
Cedar wood
Cedar wood comes from several different trees that grow in different parts of the world, and may have different uses.* California incense-cedar, from Calocedrus decurrens, is the primary type of wood used for making pencils...
interior. Although the house is currently surrounded by a lawn and shrubs, it was once surrounded by a formal garden that may have been larger than any other such garden in western Pennsylvania
Western Pennsylvania
Western Pennsylvania consists of the western third of the state of Pennsylvania in the United States. Pittsburgh is the largest city in the region, with a metropolitan area population of about 2.4 million people, and serves as its economic and cultural center. Erie, Altoona, and Johnstown are its...
.
In 1980, the house was added to the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
for its architecture and for its association with William B. Dunlap. It is also a contributing property
Contributing property
In the law regulating historic districts in the United States, a contributing resource or contributing property is any building, structure, or object which adds to the historical integrity or architectural qualities that make the historic district, listed locally or federally, significant...
to a historic district
Historic district (United States)
In the United States, a historic district is a group of buildings, properties, or sites that have been designated by one of several entities on different levels as historically or architecturally significant. Buildings, structures, objects and sites within a historic district are normally divided...
, the Bridgewater Historic District
Bridgewater Historic District (Bridgewater, Pennsylvania)
The Bridgewater Historic District is a historic district in Bridgewater, Pennsylvania, United States. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places on June 28, 1996, it includes buildings built between 1818 and 1933, although the most significant buildings in the district are those that were...
, which was listed on the National Register in 1996.
Further reading
- Bausman, Joseph H. History of Beaver County, Pennsylvania: and Its Centennial Celebration. New YorkNew York CityNew York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
: Knickerbocker, 1904. - The House Beautiful Building Annual 1926. BostonBostonBoston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
: The Atlantic Monthly, 1925. - Pratt, Richard. A Treasury of Early American Homes. New YorkNew York CityNew York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
: Whittlesey, 1949.