Cameron Estate facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Cameron Estate
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Cameron Estate "Mansion House"
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 Location in Pennsylvania
Location in the United States
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| Nearest city | Mount Joy, Pennsylvania |
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| Area | 15.3 acres (6.2 ha) |
| Built | 1872 |
| Built by | John Watson |
| Architectural style | Colonial Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 75001646 |
| Added to NRHP | November 03, 1975 |
The Cameron Estate is a historic property in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. It was once a summer home for Simon Cameron and his family. Simon Cameron was an important person who served as President Lincoln's Secretary of War. The family lived here from 1872 to 1959. They often called their home "Donegal."
Contents
A Look Back: The Cameron Estate's Story
Early Owners: The Stephenson Family (1738 - 1785)
The Cameron Estate began as a large piece of land, about 314-acre (1.27 km2). It was next to the Donegal Presbyterian Church. This land was part of the church's "glebe," which means it was set aside to help support the church.
In 1738, James Stephenson got this land from a William Penn land grant. His grandson, David Watson, later received the property in 1780. David Watson was a respected patriot and a judge. His grandsons became doctors in the Donegal area.
The Watson Family's Time (1785 - 1872)
Dr. John Watson, David Watson's son, took ownership in 1785. He lived on the property, which was then called the Stephenson farm. In 1805, Dr. John Watson built the first part of the main house. This "Mansion House" was the biggest brick building in the area at that time.
It was a two-story house built in the Federal style. It had an L-shape with a dining wing. The front porch faced south, looking over the Donegal Presbyterian Church. Dr. Watson lived there until he passed away in 1843. His son, Dr. Nathaniel Watson, sold the farm to Simon Cameron in 1872.
The Cameron Family Era (1872 - 1961)
In 1872, Simon Cameron bought the estate. It included the red-brick farmhouse built in 1805. Simon Cameron and his family turned it into a grand estate. They lovingly called it "Donegal."
Simon Cameron was a very important figure. He was President Lincoln's first Secretary of War. He also served as a U.S. Senator four times. His son, James Donald Cameron, later became Secretary of War for President Ulysses S. Grant.
The estate's main entrance gates are very special. They are made of ornamental iron. These gates once guarded the state capital building in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Simon Cameron moved them to his estate. Today, only the gates on Mansion Lane remain.
The estate is now about 15.25-acre (61,700 m2). It is located between Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania and Mount Joy, Pennsylvania.
Expanding the Estate
Simon Cameron bought many farms around the Donegal Presbyterian Church. At its largest, the estate covered about 1,200 acres (4.9 km2) of land. He even bought a state fish hatchery in 1883 for $2,000. This included land, a hatchery building, and water rights to Donegal Spring.
The main house today is a beautiful three-story mansion. It is built in the Colonial Revival Federal style. The Cameron family lived here from 1872 until 1959.
Simon Cameron made few changes to the house. His son, James Donald Cameron (often called Don Cameron), made it much larger. In 1889, Don Cameron added a third floor and expanded the house. It is said that his second wife, Elizabeth Sherman, wanted a grander home. Don Cameron added special details, like the "Pennsylvania Keystone" design above the windows. The last expansion was finished in 1914.
The estate was a working farm. They grew tobacco and watercress. Don Cameron also raised award-winning horses, including Thoroughbreds and Welsh ponies. He planted 100 acres (0.40 km2) of blue grass for his horses.
Buildings on the Estate
Today, five buildings remain on the estate. These include the main house, a summer kitchen, a carriage barn, a tool shed, and a pump house. There is also an underground armory and a water tower.
- The Main House: Built in 1805, it grew to about 12,500 square feet (1,160 m2). It was a private home until Mary Cameron, Simon Cameron's granddaughter, sold it in 1961.
- The Summer Kitchen: This building is 15 feet (4.6 m) north of the mansion. It was later changed to include an office and living quarters.
- The Carriage House: Located 100 yards from the mansion, it once held Mary Cameron's car collection. The attic was where the chauffeur lived. In 1975, it became a conference center. Today, it is a popular wedding reception venue.
- The Tool Shed: This shed was next to the carriage barn and was later made part of it.
- The Pump House: This unique building was built in 1889 using a new method: poured-in-place concrete. It pumped water from a spring to a large water tower on a ridge. The water then flowed by gravity to the house.
- The Underground Armory: James Donald Cameron built this armory. He was Secretary of War under President Grant. It was used to store weapons for the troops who protected the President when he visited.
When Mary Cameron passed away in 1959, the "Cameron Estate" was divided. It was sold as 9 separate farms.
Elizabethtown College Years (1961 – 1981)
In 1961, Mary Cameron's estate sold 15.25 acres (61,700 m2) of the property to Elizabethtown College. The college used the property for different purposes. It served as a dormitory for male students on the Dean's List. It also housed a school for children with special needs.
In 1975, Mrs. G. Howland Chase, a great-granddaughter of Simon Cameron, helped fund a restoration of the mansion. Elizabethtown College then used it as a conference center with rooms for guests. In 1981, the mansion was turned into a country inn by local culinary expert Betty Groff and her husband, Abe. The Groffs sold the inn in 1996.
The Cameron Estate Today
Today, the historic home is known as the Cameron Estate Inn. It is a peaceful place with large hemlock, oak, and maple trees. There are beautiful gardens with irises, peonies, and roses. An old stone bridge built in 1875 crosses a stream that runs through the 15-acre (61,000 m2) estate.
Visitors to the Cameron Estate Inn can explore the lovely grounds. They can also visit the historic Donegal Scottish Presbyterian Church nearby. Outside the gates, you can walk along an avenue of tall maple trees. Simon Cameron planted these trees long ago.
Many members of the Cameron family contributed to the homestead. James Donald Cameron expanded the mansion to its current size. James McCormick Cameron, Simon's grandson, was a bank president. Mary Cameron, Simon's granddaughter, was a community helper and the last of the family to live there. No major changes have been made to the outside of the house since 1918.
James Donald Cameron, Simon Cameron's eldest son, passed away at Donegal on August 30, 1918.
