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"Our firm's physical proximity to the Society's facility will allow for excellent accessibility and communication with the Historical Society to determine the best course of action in achieving their goals in this endeavor," Vern McKissick said.
(Photo courtesy of the City of Harrisburg)
McKissick Associates is a family-owned firm providing architectural and design services with specialization in educational facility design & planning, historic preservation and sustainable "green" design.
McKissick Associates
Simonton Mansion
317 North Front Street
Harrisburg, PA 17101
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tel: (717) 238-6810
fax: (717) 238-6830
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Paula Mann, Marketing Coordinator
pmann@mckissickassociates.com
McKissick Associates
Piedmont Leaf Lofts
401 East 4th Street, Suite 203
Winston-Salem, NC 27101
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tel: (336) 722-6152
fax: (336) 722-6192
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David Watkins, Office Manager
dwatkins@mckissickassociates.com
McKissick Associates has been selected by the Historical Society of Dauphin County to develop a master site plan for the John Harris/Simon Cameron Mansion complex on Front Street. The mansion, a city landmark, has been the home of the Historical Society since 1941.
The master site plan will focus on areas of concern, which include: vehicular traffic, both in and around the site; energy conservation and building systems; archival collection storage; and museum retail. The study will also address the proposed use of the carriage house adjacent to the mansion. Additionally, the master site plan will include a preliminary code review, to include historic preservation standards, ADA accessibility guidelines, and local building code and zoning regulations.
The mansion, constructed of native limestone, was built by John Harris, Jr., founder of the city of Harrisburg. His father, John Harris, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1719 as one of the first emigrants to accompany William Penn, operated a successful ferry across the Susquehanna River and a trading post. In 1863, Simon Cameron, President Lincoln's first Secretary of War, purchased the home from the Harris family and lived there until his death in 1889. In 1941, the Cameron heirs gave the Harris/Cameron Mansion to the Historical Society of Dauphin County.
According to Vern L. McKissick III, AIA, principal of McKissick Associates, "Our firm's physical proximity to the Society's facility will allow for excellent accessibility and communication with the Historical Society to determine the best course of action in achieving their goals in this endeavor."
The Historical Society of Dauphin County, founded in 1869, provides guided tours of the Mansion as well as making it available for rental as a popular site for weddings, receptions, holiday parties, business meetings and other events. The tours and rentals provide an important source of revenue for the Society, which also is curator and custodian of a large collection of historical and genealogical archives within their library. As a museum, the mansion contains furnishings from the Harris and Cameron families, in addition to historic donations from families throughout Dauphin County.
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