Greetings to all the descendants of the pioneer families who settled the Benezette region of Elk County, PA and those with an interest in the history of this region:

DESPITE RECEIVING TWO GRANTS FROM THE COMMONWEALTH AND GOVERNOR RENDELL'S INITIATIVE TO ESTABLISH A TOURISM PROGRAM KNOWN AS THE PA WILDS, THIS HISTORIC HOUSE ON WINSLOW HILL WILL BE DEMOLISHED. See information at the bottom of the page.

Background:

Winslow House Heritge Council, Inc., was established as a non-profit corporation in November, 2004, for the purpose of preserving and promoting the history, natural resource heritage, wildlife resources and local lore of the Winslow Hill Region in Elk County, PA.

Membership is open to any person who sympathizes with the purposes of this Council and pledges to uphold its By-Laws.

Situated on a 200 acre parcel of land is a farmhouse that has significant historic value in Elk County. Built and occupied by George Wait Winslow around 1852, the land on which the house sits once belonged to Reuben Winslow, one of the first three Elk County Commissioners. The Winslow family are the direct descendants of six Pilgrims who signed the Mayflower Compact; Revolutionary War patriots; and Civil War heroes who were members of the famed Bucktail Regiment.

The house and land was purchased by the Western PA Conservancy and donated to the Commonwealth of PA for the use of the Game Commission. The house is scheduled for demolition once the Game Commission completes mine recovery activities in that location. In an unprecedented move, the Game Commission consented to give the house to Winslow House Heritage Council with the provision it be moved from the land.

Winslow House Heritage Council planned to operate the house as a museum/shop, supported by a bed and breakfast. The goal of the project was to educate those traveling into the region of its rich heritage, from native Americans and pioneers to the immigrants who came to the region for opportunities in farming, lumbering, mining, and manufacturing.

Winslow House Heritage Council received a grant from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to conduct a feasibility study on the reuse of the house. The feasibility study, conducted by KTH Architects of DuBois, PA, was completed in January, 2007. As a result of the study, due to the deteriorating condition of the house and to meet international building code requirements for its commercial use, the architects proposed reconstruction of the original Winslow House with modern construction means while maintaining the historic detailing, proportions and materials that would have been used in the mid 1800s. Parts of the existing house such as bricks, doors, mouldings, hardware, flooring, etc., would be salvaged and reused in the reconstruction. The building footprint and exterior elevations were to be increased proportionately in order to allow for better space arrangement and adequate ceiling heights. The study also provided a long-term vision for Winslow House Heritage Council to provide a facility with many features, which would attract both local and non local visitors. Precedents recited in the study were Colonial Williamsburg, VA; Taliesin West, Scottsdale, AZ; and Zion National Park Visitors Center, Springdale, Utah. The Board of Directors of Winslow House Heritage Council adopted this plan and moved to address the first phase of the study, salvaging parts of the house.

Winslow Hill is located in the region that has been designated as the PA WILDS by Governor Edward Rendell. It was expected that the preservation project and the establishment of a museum/shop would educate visitors to the region about our rich historic past and would become a focal point on Winslow Hill, offering an additional attraction to those traveling here for eco-tourism opportunities including viewing the PA elk herd.

For membership information, contact us by mail or e-mail. We welcome your interest.

**The Project (feasibility study) was financed by a grant from the Commonwealth Financing Authority.

The Board of Directors of Winslow House Heritage Council is comprised of members of the Carpenter Winslow Family; representatives of Mt. Pleasant Cemetery and St. Cecelia's Cemetery; PA Great Outdoors; Benezette Township Supervisors, Winslow Hill Land Owner; and ex officio, Elk County Planning Office representing the Elk County Commissioners; and Lumber Heritage Region.

HERE IS A LAST LOOK AT AT WHAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN AND THE HOUSE IN THE SUMMER OF 2006.

Architectural rendering of front elevation of reconstructed Winslow House

A side view of the old farmhouse as it exists today. See more photos elsewhere on this page.

Additional photos of the 1850s farmhouse which is currently being utilized as an office by the PA Game Commission prior to its demolition.

The kitchen, heart of the home

Dining room.

View from the upstairs porch

***THE DEADLINE ESTABLISHED BY THE PA GAME COMMISSION FOR REMOVAL OF THIS HOUSE FROM ITS EXISTING LOCATION WAS SEPTEMBER 30, 2007. A GRANT OF $28,500 WAS REQUIRED TO SALVAGE THE HOUSE. THERE WERE NO APPARENT STATE FUNDS AVAILABLE. AT A MEETING WITH REPRESENTATIVES OF THE GAME COMMISSION, PHMC, DCNR AND SENATOR SCARNATI'S OFFICE ON AUGUST 9, 2007, THE GAME COMMISSION DECLINED TO GRANT WINSLOW HOUSE HERITAGE COUNCIL ANOTHER EXTENSION. THE HOUSE WILL BE DEMOLISHED BY P&N COAL COMPANY, I.E., BY BULLDOZER. THE GAME COMMISSION REPRESENTATIVE DECLINED TO SPECULATE ON THE DATE FOR DEMOLITION; HOWEVER, HE DID SAY HE WOULD NOTIFY WINSLOW HOUSE HERITAGE COUNCIL BEFORE IT COMES DOWN.

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