History of The Mill Street Mansion

• Built by Willis I. Lewis with materials from his own brickyard in Ulysses, PA


• Replaced wooden farmhouse inherited by his second wife, Lydia Ross Lewis


• Mansion called "Rossmoor"  

• Willis I. Lewis named General Counsel for Tidewater Pipeline Company, headquartered in New York City


• Rented a furnished home on Riverside Drive in NYC  (Divided time between NYC and Coudersport; remained involved in his own law practice & in civic affairs.)


• * Coudersport Consistory, A.A.S.R., across Second Street from his home, became a life-long focus of W.I. Lewis and his son, Robert R. Lewis, both active Masons


• March 6, 1912 -Isaac Benson house acquired by the Coudersport Lodge of Perfection

W.I. Lewis – a charter member of the Coudersport Consistory

Willis I. Lewis and Robert R. Lewis on board authorizing construction of addition: Cathedral Building
(W.I. seated, far left; R.R. standing, far right)

• W.I. Lewis died unexpectedly; mansion overseen by R.R. Lewis, who lived nearby


• Widow Lydia Lewis spent most of her time in NYC and Boston, where she died on October 4, 1919

• Robert R. Lewis moved into mansion with wife, Margaret Wrean Lewis, and three children; continued legal practice.


• Commander in Chief of Consistory; added Auditorium in 1929, completed in spite of Depression

• Robert R. Lewis: President Judge of 55th Judicial District; Court House in Coudersport


• At mansion – hobbies included gardens featuring Golden Bantam corn, gladiolas, hybrid roses, and more

• Judge Lewis died;


• January 8, 1964, Mrs. Lewis died

• Mansion and its contents sold at auction

Francisco Villa, M.D. – built attached medical building where he treated patients

Daniel R. Kightlinger – Kightlinger Motors at corner of Mill and Second Streets
- family members lived in medical annex

Adelphia Communications Corporation

- had offices in medical annex
- dug basement deeper, heated floor in basement
- planned as additional office space

– planned to restore and open as Bed and Breakfast
– stabilized roof, eves troughs / downspouts, replaced windows
– removed dangerously crumbling porte cochere roof
– researched authentic Victorian colors for exterior shingles

– detached above-ground connection to medical annex, separating modern and Victorian architecture

A.J. Kightlinger – began restoring and furnishing interior
- lived in Carriage House (formerly the medical annex)

Used mansion for family holiday party

• Oct. 1st
  First public guests:  third-floor suite for out-of-town family for wedding at Consistory; 


• Oct. 6th-8th
  Judy Bolton fans for annual convention (house is "Ferrington-Pett Mansion" in Judy Bolton mystery books)


• 8 unique individual rooms with private bathrooms available for your next get away!