Bryn Du Mansion facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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McCune's Villa
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Front of the house
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 Location in Ohio
Location in the United States
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| Location | 537 Jones Rd., Granville Township, Licking County, Ohio |
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| Nearest city | Granville |
| Area | 50 acres (20 ha) |
| Built | Circa 1905 |
| Architect | Frank L. Packard; Henry D. Wright |
| Architectural style | Georgian, Federal |
| NRHP reference No. | 82003602 |
Bryn Du Mansion is a famous old house located in Granville, a small village in Licking County, Ohio. This amazing estate is now owned by the village and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, which means it's an important historical site. The mansion is huge, with 52 rooms and 12 cozy fireplaces!
Contents
History of Bryn Du Mansion
Building a Grand Home in Granville
The Bryn Du Mansion was first built in 1865 by a local businessman named Henry D. Wright. It was designed in a style called Italianate Villa. The outside of the house was made from sandstone. This stone was dug right from the property itself! The original house had a tall, three-story tower in the middle. On each side of the tower, there were two wings. The top floor of the tower had cool arched windows. Just one year after it was built, Jonas McCune bought the property. That's why it was known for a while as McCune's Villa.
A New Look for the Mansion
Over the years, a few different people owned the mansion. Then, in 1905, a very wealthy man named John Sutphin Jones bought it. He made his fortune in coal and railroads. Mr. Jones decided to give the mansion a big makeover. He hired a famous architect from Columbus named Frank Packard. The renovation project took almost five years to finish. Packard changed the mansion's style to a grand Georgian-Federal design.
During this big renovation, Packard added new wings. This made the house much wider, growing from 100 feet to 140 feet across. He also added a beautiful Federal-style porch on the south side of the tower. The new parts of the mansion were built with the same type of stone. This made sure it matched the original building. Packard also built other important buildings on the estate. These included a carriage house, a laundry house, and a horse barn. Inside, the mansion has fancy plaster ceilings. They show off the detailed Federal and Georgian styles.
What Does "Bryn Du" Mean?
John Sutphin Jones gave the estate its special name, "Bryn Du." This name comes from the Welsh language. It means "Black Hills." Mr. Jones chose this name to honor his family's background. It also reminded him of the coal-rich areas in southern Ohio where he made his money.
Life at the Mansion with the Jones Family
A Country Home for a Busy Family
John Sutphin Jones already had a "town house" in Granville. But he bought and fixed up McCune's Villa to be a country home. It was meant for his first wife, Sarah Fidelia Follett Jones, who everyone called Sally. Sadly, Sally passed away in 1910. This was just as the big renovations were being finished.
Mr. Jones remarried in 1911. He lived in the mansion with his second wife, Alice Baxter Bartlett Jones. They had two daughters named Sallie and Alice. The Jones family often hosted important guests at Bryn Du Mansion. Famous people like Presidents Calvin Coolidge, William Howard Taft, and Warren G. Harding had dinner there. Famous actresses Lillian Gish and Katharine Cornell enjoyed coffee. Even world-renowned musicians like Paderewski and Rachmaninoff played the piano in the mansion!
Changes in Ownership
John Sutphin Jones died in 1927. His older daughter, Sallie Jones Sexton, inherited the property. She lived on the estate and also managed a farm and a local inn. Sallie was known for her strong personality. She was also famous for raising and training show horses. However, her way of managing things led the estate to face financial challenges.
In 1979, William M. and Ortha A. Wright bought the property. They were not related to the original builder. They turned the mansion into a restaurant for a short time. Later, in 1989, a company called Quest International bought the property. They used it as their company headquarters.
The Longaberger Era
In 1995, Dave Longaberger purchased the estate. He was known for his basket company. Mr. Longaberger added new game courts and a field house to the property. He also started a big renovation project on the existing buildings. However, this work stopped when he passed away in 1999.
Bryn Du Mansion Today
In November 2002, the people of Granville Village voted. They wanted to decide if the village should buy the Bryn Du property. A large majority, 62% of the voters, supported buying it. So, on December 16, 2002, the Village of Granville bought the property from the Longaberger Company. The village then gave half of the front field, about 16 acres, to Granville Township. This was done to help preserve it as green space for everyone to enjoy.
