Historic Annville home rediscovered and redone

A room with a view of the campus of Lebanon Valley College on the second floor of Lorenz House. The Annville home, recently restored by owners Scott Eggert and Dan Massad, once housed the college's fourth president. (Barb West Lebanon Daily News)

ANNVILLE >> The Queen Anne-style house that sits at 112 N. College Ave. in this college town has a colorful history. But through the decades, time took its toll on the 19th century house. Its origins and grandeur were lost until Dan Massad, an Artist in Residence at Lebanon Valley College decided to restore the home, rediscovering its history in the process.

On Sunday, the new property owners, Dan Massad and Scott Eggert, gave a special tour of their new home to about 50 members of the Friends of Old Annville.

"We're celebrating this house because it's such a perfect example of what could be done to a property that looks like it needs to scrapped and turned into a parking lot," said Paul M. Fulmer, a local historian and FOOA member. "The potential that is exhibited today is really exceptional."

Several years ago, Massad was asked to write a history of the college's architecture. While doing the research, he discovered a file in the college archives on the "President's House." It turned out that 112 N. College Ave. was the home of LVC's fourth president, Edmund S. Lorenz, and was occupied by two subsequent presidents. It is one of two college buildings still existing that date to the institution's earliest days.

With the help of librarian Scott Conrad, Massad found an exterior view of the home. It sparked his interest in restoring the home. In 2010, he took his vision to then-President Stephen C. MacDonald, who agreed to the plan.

Lorenz, an amateur architect, designed his house around 1888, according to Fulmer.

"He had a large hand in the layout of it," he said.

Lorenz made a note in his memoirs that his new house was built "according to my plans," Fulmer said.

Lorenz was president between 1887 and 1889, a troublesome time for the college. Ultimately, he resigned his position after several bouts of illness.

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Historic Annville home rediscovered and redone