venango county homes 17

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17.Reverend Richard H. and Anna Eliza Plumer Austin House

This elegant Colonal Revival home, located on Fifteenth Street, was constructed in 1871 for The Reverend Richard H. and Anna Eliza Plumer Austin as a gift from the bride�s parents, Arnold and Margaret Plumer.

The Reverend Austin served as the pastor of the Baptist Church and was involved in the oil enterprises along with General Charles Miller, who was a neighbor.

After a transfer of ownership to a few more families, it was purchased by John A. Wilson in 1902. Mr. Wilson was also in the oil business with General Miller. Major remodeling occurred in 1903, with most of the changes being to the fa�ade, including the addition of the large curved porch and porch balcony. Original construction was probably Italianate or Second Empire architectural style. The interior square footage did not change much on the first floor, but the upper stories were expanded to include the full footprint of the building.

John A. Wilson was a first cousin of Woodrow Wilson, the 28th president of the United States. John Wilson died in 1923 and Mrs. Wilson died in 1930, shortly after which time the home�s ownership was transferred to the American Legion for a modest outlay of money, thanks to the arrangements of the Wilson�s sons� generosity. The home remained close to the heart of the younger son, Edwin, being the home where he was raised, and when he died suddenly six years later, his military funeral was conducted in the house, as were the funerals of his late father, mother, and sister. The American Legion owned the house into the mid-1950s. The present owners have returned this home to a single-family residence with numerous renovations including replacing the magnificent porches to the fa�ade.

Submitted by: Penny Minnick
minnick862@verizon.net