Housenick mansion's designer tapped to study it for upgrade

The early 20th century Georgian mansion in Bethlehem Township's Housenick Park will be examined for restoration by the architectural firm that designed it the early 1900s.

The township commissioners voted unanimously Monday night to pay Spillman Farmer Architects $17,000 to develop a comprehensive plan for restoring the building's exterior and determining what the work will cost.

The Bethlehem firm was one of two considered for the project. The other was John Milner of Chadds Ford, Delaware County, who is also known for restoring historic properties.

What sealed the deal with Spillman Farmer was that it was the firm that designed the mansion and, in its records, still has many of the original plans.

"Spillman Farmer originally designed the house, and they brought with them some of the original drawings and alternate designs," commissioners President Martin Zawarski said. "Having those plans of the mansion should bring a respectful restoration. We're very happy they came forward to do the work.''

The 17-room mansion is within the 55-acre Janet and William D. and Janet Housenick Memorial Park off Christian Springs Road. Janet Housenick gave the township the property, an estate built by her late grandfather, Archibald Johnston, who was a Bethlehem Steel Co. president and Bethlehem's first mayor.

Township Manager Melissa Shafer said after the meeting that Johnston's mansion was designed by Curtis Lovelace, who in the early 20th century was part of the architectural firm of Lovelace Spillman. In the late 1920s the name changed to Spillman Farmer.

Shafer said that in addition to establishing the work and costs associated with an exterior restoration, which would include siding and windows, the architects will also develop a plan to convert the mansion's servants quarters into a bathroom for park visitors.

She said the $17,000 cost is expected to come from the Housenick trust fund.

The commissioners also authorized starting the bidding process for construction of several improvements to the park's grounds, including trail construction, a new park entrance and creating parking lots for both cars and buses.

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Housenick mansion's designer tapped to study it for upgrade