The Asa Packer Mansion is located in the town of Jim Thorpe, PA and sits on a hill over-looking the town. It is one of the best preserved Italian Villa’s around the area. From the outside the home does not look all that big, but once you get inside you can see just how large it really is.
Here is a picture of Asa Packer as he was back in the 1800’s. Asa was a coal & railroad magnate. He had the mansion built by a architect named Samuel L. Slope that was from Philadelphia, PA. He designed and built the home for Asa and his Wife. Asa had made a whole lot of money from the coal and railroad industry. He could afford such a fancy home as he had. He also donated large sums of money to the church and town of Jim Thorpe.
Looking at the house from the outside where you enter the home. The Home was donated to the town of Jim Thorpe after he passed away. After his passing, the house sat idle for more than 44 yrs. until the Jim Thorpe Lions Club started finically controlling house. The house was all boarded up and the past was locked up inside as it was so many yrs. ago.
Looking at the home from the other side.
Here I stood in front of the home looking up. There are Tours that you can take thru the house and see just what kind of furnishings they had back in their day. No camera’s were allowed in the house, so I could not show what it looked like. Stepping inside the house was like going back in time. Everything in the house was preserved as it was long ago. From the expensive furniture and carpet of its day, to the hand carved wood through out every entrance and hallway, the home remains as it was. The wallpaper on the walls was imported from Italy and was hand carved with a special tool. Gold dust was thrown on the pasted paper and then installed on the walls. Everyday eating china was gold lined around the edges! He had almost everything that money could buy for a home like this. Asa did have children, but I don’t remember their names. Asa also started the Lehigh University for education and it still remains.
Here is a shot looking down the hill to the town of Jim Thorpe.
Thanks for reading & commenting
Les
PHOTOJOURNAL OF CORKER2 