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THE FASSITT MANSION

The Fassitt Mansion is a historic mansion located in Salisbury Township in eastern Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, USA. It is specifically located in the community of Cains, between White Horse and Compass along Old Philadelphia Pike (Route 340) approximately 50 miles west of Philadelphia, PA. It has been said that it was used as a stop on the Underground Railroad.

Currently, the Fassitt Mansion is operated as a bed and breakfast and can be found at this site.

HISTORY

The earliest transaction of the property was recorded between Thomas, Richard and John Penn to Thomas Clark and Walter Davis, 300 and 500 acres, respectively. The first house on the property was built around 1717 but burnt down. When the property was conveyed to Winfield Scott Kennedy from Jacob and Christiana Hershey in 1865, it was listed as The Fassitt Mansion and Plantation. Since that time it has changed hands many times. Below is a listing of deed recordings. (Note: Thomas, Richard and John Penn are the sons of William Penn, founder of Pennsylvania)

• May 19, 1715 - Thomas, Richard and John Penn to Thomas Clark and Walter Davis, 300 and 500 acres respectively.
• February 9, 1735 - Thomas, Richard and John Penn to John Miller, 100 acres
• March 3, 1735 - Thomas, Richard and John Penn to John Miller, 270 acres transferred from Clark and Davis
• 1745 - John Miller sold by sheriff sale to John Kinsey, Thomas Leech, Thomas Chandler and John Wright
• 1745 - John Kinsey, et al, to Charles Cookson
• June 14, 1746 - Charles Cookson to Daniel Cookson, son, and Samuel Harris, grandson by estate
• April 17, 1761 - John and Esther Miller to Isaac and Alice Richardson, 180 1/2 acres
• January 16, 1765 - Isaac and Alice Richardson to James Hamilton
• August 7, 1772 - Frederick Stone, sheriff to James Hamilton - Tract 1
• 1786 - Samuel Harris to James Henderson from estate - Tract 2
• April 3, 1794 - James Henderson to David Martin - Tract 2
• August 19, 1823 - Frederick Hambright to Thomas G. Henderson, sheriff sale, 85 and 66 acres
• August 16, 1825 - Frederick Hambright to Thomas G. Henderson, sheriff sale, 182 acres
• July 1, 1837 - David Martin to John Martin, $3750.00
• April 1, 1840 - John Martin to Thomas G. Henderson, $2389.69
• March 29, 1845 - Thomas and Mary Henderson to James Fassitt, $7457.00
• April 2, 1853 - Frances Fassitt to William Coleman Henderson, $16,000
• March 24, 1860 - William Coleman Henderson to Jacob F. Hershey, $20,718.65
• April 1, 1865 - Jacob and Christiana Hershey to Winfield Scott Kennedy, $21,387
• May 2, 1902 - John M. Kennedy to A. Clement Baldwin, $13,766.88
• March 22, 1919 - Hoffman Tobacco Leaf Company to John Hertzler $17,057.62 - 131 acres through bankruptcy sale
• March 31, 1927 - John Hertzler, et al, to John Orth, et al, $11,494.20
• March 16, 1933 - Guy and Grace Hoffman to Pennsylvania Joint Stock Land Bank of Philadelphia, $1.00
• July 17, 1933 - Pennsylvania Joint Stock Land Bank of Philadelphia, to John M. Slaymaker, $1.00
• March 31, 1937 - John M. Slaymaker to Sylvanus Stoltzfus, $15,500.00
• May 1, 1963 - Sylvanus Stoltzfus to Verna Stoltzfus Yost (daughter), $62,880.00
• October 1971 - R. John and Verna Yost to Robert and Jan Stewart, $22, 874.00
• May 5, 1992 - Robert and Jane Stewart to Edward and Tara Golish
• March 29, 1996 - Edward and Tara Golish to Bill and Patricia Collins

DESCRIPTION OF THE PROPERTY

The current property consists of approximately 1.6 acres situated among corn fields and a dairy farm. There is a pond in the front of the mansion. At one time, there was a small pool there where the residents would raise small fish to use as fertilizer in the field. There is a large yard to the west of the main house with a gazebo overlooking the grounds. The Carriage House (believed to be the original house built around 1733) sits behind the mansion with an enclosed breezeway connecting the two buildings as well as a basement tunnel. Behind The Carriage House lies The Cottage. The Cottage was renovated to be used as living quarters.

The Mansion has 12 foot ceilings with plaster crown molding. The main floor consists of a living room, dining room, kitchen and one of the bedrooms (The Overlook). The second floor contains 4 more bedrooms (The Colonial, The Victorian, The Master's Chamber and The Freedom Room. The Colonial is decorated in typical "Plain" fashion and has a view of the farmland to the north. The Victorian is decorated with more of a "fancy" feeling with a stenciled floor and brass bed. The Master's Chamber is the largest of the rooms, with a 4 post bed and a fireplace. The Freedom Room also looks over the farmland to the north. Inside the closet of the Freedom Room, there is a hidden doorway on the floor that leads to a hiding place where runaway slaves are said to have hidden on their trip to freedom. The third floor has been converted to living quarters with two bedrooms, a bath with a claw-foot tub and a large walk-in closet.

External links

• fassittmansion.com