Stevens House Lancaster, PA

Project Background

The Stevens and Smith Historic Site project consisted of the restoration / rehabilitation of three historic structures in downtown Lancaster and incorporating those structures into the new Marriott Hotel / Convention Center complex completed earlier in the year. The largest portion of the project was the restoration of the former home of civil war era statesman, abolitionist and education reformer, Thaddeus Stevens.

The Stevens House received a complete rebuild of the roof and street side façade, as well as significant modifications to the structure’s interior. The Witmer Group encountered a number of challenges in the project, including the preservation of historical accuracy required by the project owner, the rebuild of the Stevens House’s Queen Street façade, and the requirement to adhere to United States Department of the Interior’s standards for historic preservation, most notably the requirement to remove old mortars without the use of power tools (grinders).

The diligence of our skilled craftsmen and project leaders to ensure the integrity and accuracy of this important historical landmark, along with the cooperation and teamwork of the architect, owner, suppliers and masonry contractor made this project a huge success.