Elm Court (Butler, Pennsylvania) facts for kids
Elm Court, often called Phillips Mansion, is a grand historic house in Butler, Pennsylvania. It was designed by a famous architect named Benno Janssen and built between 1929 and 1930. This huge house has 40 rooms and is built into a hillside.
The mansion is built around a central courtyard. It is made of strong steel and concrete. The outside is covered with beautiful limestone, marble, and slate. Elm Court was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979. This means it is a very important historical building.
Quick facts for kids |
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Elm Court
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Elm Court courtyard, April 2009
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 Location in Pennsylvania
Location in the United States
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| Location | Between Polk and Elm Sts., Butler, Pennsylvania |
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| Area | 9.4 acres (3.8 ha) |
| Built | 1929-1930 |
| Built by | Wimer, Harry |
| Architect | Janssen, Benno |
| Architectural style | Tudor Revival, Other, Tudor Gothic revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 79002176 |
| Added to NRHP | December 6, 1979 |
Contents
Discovering Elm Court: A Historic Mansion
Elm Court is a great example of Tudor Revival architecture. This style looks like old English Tudor homes. It has complex slate roofs with many pointed parts called gables. The house also has many windows of different shapes. Some windows stick out from the wall, like oriel and bay windows. You can also see interesting chimneys and carved stone details.
The Story Behind Elm Court
Elm Court was built for Benjamin D. Phillips. His father, T.W. Phillips, started the T.W. Phillips Gas & Oil Co. People often called Elm Court "one of America's most spectacular private homes." The house cost $1 million to build in 1929.
Who Built This Amazing House?
The famous architect Benno Janssen designed the mansion. He was well known in Pittsburgh. Harry Wimer was the master builder who completed the home. He also built other important buildings in Butler, Pennsylvania. These include the T.W. Phillips Gas and Oil Company building and The Butler Eagle building.
Owners of Elm Court
Even though the mansion is over 70 years old, it has not had many owners. Dean E. Burget and his wife, Undine Phillips Burget, bought it in 1978. They bought it from the original owners.
Later, in 1988, Frederick R. Koch bought the mansion. He paid $1 million for the house itself. He also bought the land next to it for $900,000. Mr. Koch made many updates and additions to the mansion. Frederick R. Koch passed away in 2020. The property is now owned by a trust.
The Famous Organ
Inside the mansion, there is a very special musical instrument. It is a large pipe organ called the Skinner Organ. This organ, known as Opus 783, can play music by itself. It also has a full console for someone to play it. The organ was completely fixed up and restored in 1990.
