Walnut Avenue Bridge, Harrisburg State Hospital and 21 different Harrisburg properties focused for preservation – pennlive.com

This year, the Historic Harrisburg Association is setting their sites on several properties in or around Harrisburg.

The organization has released a list of several buildings across the greater capital city area as their 2021 Preservation Priorities, which they consider “most in need of attention,” according to their press release.

Their list includes an HHA Top 5, which are the properties that the committee considers most in need of attention. But beyond those five sites are the 18 on the HHA Watch List, which are of lower priority but still in need of preservation and restoration.

“The committee’s main goal of this refresh was to implement a system which highlights properties most in need of attention, keeps a close eye on others, and graduates those which have been successes,” read a statement from Sara Sweeney, HHA board and reservation chair. “We all agree that HHA’s 2021 Preservation Priorities, which will implement some of these changes, will provide us with a greater focus both as a committee and as an organization.”

Below are the five properties being given the highest priority by the Historic Harrisburg Association, along with a brief statement from their announcement explaining each decision:

The Balsley House​ at 220 N. Second Street​ in Harrisburg, is one of the Historic Harrisburg Association’s 2021 Preservation Priorities.

The Balsley House, 220 N. Second Street

“Located adjacent to the entrance of River Street Garage, between Tom Sawyer Diner and Zembie’s Restaurant, it is one of the earliest structures still standing in Harrisburg. It dates from the late Federal period and is rumored to be a hewn-log structure, ironically protected under a skin of aluminum siding. We hope to garner attention for this key property on ‘Restaurant Row’ and see it become a viable business within the fabric of Second Street.”

William Penn High School​ at N. Third & Division streets​ is one of the Historic Harrisburg Association’s 2021 Preservation Priorities.

William Penn High School, Third and Division streets

“Designed by Charles Howard Lloyd, the school opened in 1926. It is currently being eyed by several developers, some more likely than others to demolish most or all of the structure. We hope to impact the overall redevelopment of the buildings, including sensitive reuse of the open space which is as important as the future of the building.”

Camp Curtin Church​ at 2221 N. Sixth Street​ is one of Historic Harrisburg Association’s 2021 Preservation Priorities

Camp Curtin Memorial-Mitchell United Methodist Church, 2221 N. Sixth Street

“A century-old landmark church with important ties to Harrisburg’s Civil War heritage and an anchor in the uptown neighborhood. It is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Several buyers are interested, some of whose plans could compromise the architectural integrity. We hope to influence sensitive reuse of the space.”

Harrisburg State Hospital​ at Cameron and Maclay streets​, is one of Historic Harrisburg Association’s 2021 Preservation Priorities

Harrisburg State Hospital, Cameron Street

“A hilltop campus of historic buildings and scenic landscape, it is comparable to an Ivy League college campus. The transfer of ownership from the State to Dauphin County Redevelopment Authority is pending. We hope to encourage following the recommendations laid out in Historic Harrisburg’s 2014 White Paper, which urges preservation of the historic campus portion, sensitive development of the Elmerton Avenue tracts, and preservation of open space around Asylum Run watershed and Capital Area Greenbelt.”

Prospect Hill Cemetery Gatehouse​ at 25th & Market streets​ is one of Historic Harrisburg Association’s 2021 Preservation Priorities

Prospect Hill Cemetery Gatehouse, 25th and Market streets

“This unique Victorian gatehouse was acquired and moved from the Philadelphia Centennial 1876 Exposition grounds; it is a close cousin of the gatehouses at entrance to the Philadelphia Zoo. Positioned at the abrupt end of Market Street makes it a target for car accidents, indeed a mid-2020 accident caused severe damage to one side of the arched entry. We hope to assist in whatever capacity Prospect Hill Cemetery needs to raise funds to repair the gatehouse and also put measures in place to protect it from further damage.”

The remaining properties have been placed on the HHA watchlist for 2021:

Dixon University Center​ at 2986 N. Second Street is one of Historic Harrisburg Association’s 2021 Preservation Priorities

1. Dixon University Center

2986 N. Second Street, Harrisburg

The J. Donald Cameron Mansion ​at 407 N. Front Street​ is one of Historic Harrisburg Association’s 2021 Preservation Priorities

2. J. Donald Cameron Mansion

407 N. Front Street, Harrisburg

Riverside Firehouse at 3201-03 N. Fourth Street​, is one of Historic Harrisburg Association’s 2021 Preservation Priorities

3. Riverside Firehouse

3201-03 N. Fourth Street, Harrisburg

The Cumberland Valley Railroad Bridge​, which spans the Susquehanna River between Lemoyne and​ downtown Harrisburg​, is one of Historic Harrisburg Association’s 2021 Preservation Priorities

4. Cumberland Valley Railroad Bridge

Spanning the Susquehanna River between Lemoyne and Harrisburg

The Milestone Inn (formerly known as the Baker Mansion)​ at 2701 N. Front Street​ is one of the Historic Harrisburg Association’s 2021 Preservation Priorities.

5. Milestone Inn (former Baker Mansion)

2701 N. Front Street, Harrisburg

Historic Peace Church ​at Trindle & St John’s Church roads, Hampden Township, is on the list of Historic Harrisburg Association’s 2021 Preservation Priorities.​

6. Historic Peace Church

Trindle and St. John’s Church roads, Hampden Township

The Elks Theatre in Middletown is on the list of Historic Harrisburg Association’s 2021 Preservation Priorities.​

7. Elks Theater

4 W. Emaus Street, Middletown

The former Coca-Cola Bottling Works​ at 225 S. 17th Street​ is one of Historic Harrisburg Association’s 2021 Preservation Priorities

8. Former Coca-Cola Bottling Works

225 S. 17th Street, Harrisburg

Historic Brinser Mansion at 2301 N. Front Street is one of the Historic Harrisburg Association’s 2021 Preservation Priorities

9. Historic Brisner Mansion

2301 N. Front Street, Harrisburg

Grace United Methodist Church​ at 218-224 State Street is one of Historic Harrisburg Association’s 2021 Preservation Priorities

10. Grace United Methodist Church

218-224 State Street, Harrisburg

Derry Street United Methodist Church​ at 1508 Derry Street​ is one of Historic Harrisburg Association’s 2021 Preservation Priorities

11. Derry Street United Methodist Church

1508 Derry Street, Harrisburg

Bishop Bridge, spanning the Yellow Breeches Creek between Cumberland and York Counties, is one of Historic Harrisburg Association’s 2021 Preservation Priorities

12. Bishop Bridge

Bishop Road, spanning the Yellow Breeches Creek between Cumberland and York counties

The Christ Lutheran Church at 124 S. 13th Street is one of the Historic Harrisburg Association’s 2021 Preservation Priorities

13. Christ Lutheran Church

124 S. 13th Street, Harrisburg

The former St. Paul’s Methodist Church at 118 Vine Street​ is one of Historic Harrisburg Association’s 2021 Preservation Priorities

14. Former St. Paul’s Methodist Church

118 Vine Street, Harrisburg

The Zembo Shrine Center​ at 2801 N. Third Street​ is one of Historic Harrisburg Association’s 2021 Preservation Priorities

15. Zembo Shrine Center

2801 N. Third Street, Harrisburg

The Paxton Firehouse​ at 336 S. Second Street​ is one of the Historic Harrisburg Association’s 2021 Preservation Priorities.

16. Paxton Firehouse

336 S. Second Street, Harrisburg

The Beidleman House​ at 1225 Market Street​ is one of Historic Harrisburg Association’s 2021 Preservation Priorities

17. Beidleman House

1225 Market Street, Harrisburg

The Walnut Street Bridge is part of the Historic Harrisburg Association’s 2021 Preservation Priorities.
Mark Pynes | mpynes@pennlive.com

18. Walnut Street Bridge

Walnut Street, spanning the Susquehanna River between Harrisburg and City Island

For more information on any of the locations listed among the 2021 Preservation Priorities, visit the Historic Harrisburg Association’s website.