Built in the late 18th century, Royer Mansion offers a fun country Christmas escape before the holiday, according to Michael Stipanovic, president of the Royer Mansion Preservation Society Board.

The community is welcome to visit from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. this weekend, said board member Huston Godwin.

It’s a “comfortable home during the holidays,” Stipanovic said.

Preserving local history

Preservation Society Board President Michael Stipanovic fixes a light outside of Royer Mansion as the home prepares for the weekend. Mirror photo by Colette Costlow

Located along Piney Creek Road in Williamsburg, Royer Mansion was built in 1790 and later housed ironmaker Samuel Royer and his family during the early 19th century.

Throughout the years, the home was inherited by various family members until 1965, when Carrie Hartman passed away, leaving the property up for auction.

The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission came into the picture in 1967 with plans to demolish the home and build a fish hatchery instead. The Blair County Historical Society stopped the commission more than 10 years later and constructed an addition.

After sitting empty once again, Blair County Historical Society Chairman Michael Farrow approached Godwin and Stipanovic, asking if they were interested in renting the mansion.

The two agreed to maintain the property, added period decorations and created a parking lot.

An outdoor cat sits on the steps leading to the back door and porch at Royer Mansion. Mirror photo by Colette Costlow

Eventually, the Blair County Historical Society separated from Royer Mansion, and the men formed their own nonprofit known as the Royer Mansion Preservation Society.

While Godwin and Stipanovic have lived in the mansion for eight years, Godwin said they don’t own it and they can’t sell it.

They use their annual Christmas tours to give local residents a chance to see the mansion that “belongs to the people of Blair County,” he said.

Holiday tours

For nine years, the mansion has been open to the public for one week in December, giving visitors a chance to explore a piece of local history.

A festive garland hangs along the staircase that displays a wall of picture frames inside Royer Mansion. Mirror photo by Colette Costlow

Royer Mansion is currently a three-bedroom and two-bathroom home with a kitchenette, tavern, dining room and living room decorated with local, authentic farmhouse pieces from the 19th century.

For the holiday season, a festive garland lines the historic staircase, wreaths hang on doors and a large Christmas tree glitters with warm white lights and ornaments in a corner of the tavern.

Once Godwin and Stipanovic give guests a rundown of the property’s history, Godwin said they are free to walk through the home “at their own pace,” revisiting rooms and taking pictures at their own discretion.

About 75 to 100 people typically visit the mansion during the Christmastime tour, Godwin said, which costs $10 for adults and is free for children 12 and younger. All proceeds return to the mansion’s restoration.

With refreshments such as hot cider, cookies and cupcakes available to visitors, Godwin said “you can eat your weight in $10.”

A Christmas tree stands in the corner of the tavern in Royer Mansion, lighting the room with warm, twinkling lights. Mirror photo by Colette Costlow

While the tours are not a “profit maker,” he wants the house to be open so people can get the chance to see it.

“I’m just grateful that people do come,” he said.

Country and cheerful

According to preservation society board Vice President Codie Cox, it’s “interesting to see what life was like when iron was a huge, industrial makeup of the country.”

“Blair County and central Pennsylvania were big players in that,” he said.

Board member Huston Godwin shows what the original mansion looked like before the addition. Mirror photo by Colette Costlow

Royer Mansion still looks the same way it would have back then, Godwin said, taking into consideration the home’s plumbing and electrical advancements.

That is why the preservation society’s goal is to “preserve the house to keep it as original as possible for future generations,” he said.

Despite being a dated house, he said Royer Mansion is a “happy, country and cheerful” home during the holidays.

Mirror Staff Writer Colette Costlow is at 814-946-7414.

A bookcase filled with dated books sits in the corner of Royer Mansion's living room, decorated for Christmastime. Mirror photo by Colette Costlow