FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
State Rep. Keith McCall D-Carbon www.pahouse.com/McCall

McCall delivers $500,000 grant

to help preserve and repair Asa Packer Mansion

JIM THORPE, June 19 – State Rep. Keith McCall, D-Carbon, presented a $500,000 grant to officials from the Jim Thorpe Lions Club and Asa Packer Mansion Committee that will be used to make much-needed repairs to protect and preserve the historic building and its contents.

"The Asa Packer Mansion is the 'crown jewel' of Carbon County and a must-see destination for anyone visiting the greater Pocono region, and the Jim Thorpe Lions Club and mansion committee have done an outstanding job protecting and preserving this jewel for more than 50 years," McCall said. "But, with 20,000 people touring the mansion every year our crown jewel needs a little bit of polishing.

"I was proud to work with local officials like Wilfred Gardiner, Ron Sheehan and Justin Yaich to bring this $500,000 home to give our mansion the extra care it deserves."

"The Asa Packer Mansion is going to be 150 years old soon, and while the foundation and structure are still strong, there is some major work that required more financial support than the Lions Club and the committee could secure," Lions Club President Wilfred Gardiner said. "These dollars will help us preserve this National Historic Landmark so tourists today and in the future can enjoy and learn from the mansion, and I want to thank Representative McCall for his ongoing help and dedication to the mansion and our borough."

"As anyone who's toured the mansion in the dead of summer can attest to, the Victorian craftsmen were incredible woodworkers, but didn't know much about air conditioning," Lions Club President-elect, Carbon County Treasurer and Asa Packer Mansion Executive Director Ron Sheehan, who will be overseeing the renovations, said. "The largest part of this project will be modernizing the mansion's heating and cooling systems – not just for the comfort of our visitors, but also to help preserve the priceless contents of the mansion."

"This funding is going to give us the ability to literally save the mansion and the caretaker's house," Jim Thorpe Borough Councilman Justin Yaich said. "The major work will be done during the December-to-April months when the mansion is closed, and the other work is scheduled to be done room-by-room, which will allow the mansion to stay open for tours until the project is complete. The borough definitely couldn’t do this alone, so the work of the committee and the Lions Club and the support of Representative McCall is vital to keeping the mansion in good repair."

The $500,000 funding will go to multiple projects:

· Modernizing the mansion's heating and cooling systems.

· Renovating and restoring the caretaker's house to its original appearance.

· Moving the mansion's water main to come in the front basement.

· Resurfacing the front driveway and addressing water runoff issues.

· Stabilizing and re-decking the front porch.

· Installing period-correct carpeting in the library, drawing room, hallways, "red room," "blue room" and reception area.

· Cleaning and painting walls and ceilings where needed.

· Professionally cleaning and restoring all artwork in the mansion.

· Repairing damaged gold-leaf.

· Repairing and painting window trim.

· Stabilizing and repairing the banisters and railings on the main staircase.

· Improving the guest reception area and gift shop.

· Reinforcing the stone wall directly behind the mansion.

· Finishing restoration work on all furniture.

"The mansion is a real-life history lesson where people of all ages can step into the past and understand Carbon County and Pennsylvania's vital role in building the greatest nation on earth," McCall said. "The mansion and the incredible craftsmanship and period materials that went into building it literally are irreplaceable, and I will always do whatever I can to help the Lions Club and the committee keep this 'time capsule' open to the public."

The 18-room, 11,000-square-foot mansion was built in 1861 by Asa Packer, an industrialist and philanthropist who served in the U.S. Congress, built the Lehigh Valley Railroad and founded Lehigh University. The mansion was donated to the borough in 1912 by Packer's daughter Mary Packer Cummings and was closed until 1956 when the Jim Thorpe Lions Club opened the mansion for public tours. The mansion was named a National Historical Landmark in 1985.

The mansion is open to the public for tours seven days a week from Memorial Day through November. To find out more about the mansion visit www.asapackermansion.com .

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