Conewago Manor Inn

History

It is difficult to fathom and fully appreciate the scope of history through which this majestic home has stood, weathering the passage of time as it witnessed the birth of a nation and her struggles and triumphs, many of which happened not far from this doorstep in Philadelphia and later, in nearby Gettysburg. Iron from nearby forges may have been used to fight the American Revolution, and cavalry horses reared here saw action abroad in World War I.

The original survey of this land dates back to June 1, 1739. Then known as the Conewago Manor Farm, it served as the residence for Samuel Smith, a local miller and Indian trader who received the original warranted deed from the William Penn family in May of 1742. The brick portion of the home was added later and served as a public house and inn.

In 1800 Henry Bates Grubb, Ironmaster of the Hopewell Forge, bought the property and added the stately stone portion of the mansion in 1811. He expanded the farm to 3,000 acres and renamed it Mount Vernon Estate. You may encounter the remnants of his grist mill while you are exploring the grounds, and they have become a popular backdrop for the many photos taken here.

In 1899 the Mount Vernon Estate was acquired by the Pennsylvania Vaccine Company. Owner Dr. H.M. Alexander used the large stone barn on the premises as a laboratory for his experiments. The doctor established a commercial business in nearby Marietta, PA, which is known today as Wyeth - Ahearst Laboratories.

In 1913, Samuel K. Zeager acquired the property and operated “the most modern farrowing house ever built” according to a pamphlet that was distributed to entice investors at the time. In 1934, Samuel sold the grounds to his son Paul, who farmed the land and raised 17 children, 3 with his first wife Mamie, and the other children with his second wife. The family continued the operation of the sawmill, which is still in existence just up the road.

The Conewago Manor Inn has served as a United States Post Office, a railway ticket office for lines including the Pennsylvania Railroad, and now, under the careful eye of your hosts Keith and Laura Murphy, the property returns to its celebrated past as a gracious inn.

Our award-winning restoration has twice been featured on Home and Garden Television and has been detailed in Women's Day Magazine, Lancaster County Magazine, and has been acknowledged by many other local media sources. Taking nearly seven years to complete, the restoration of this renowned manor house has been very much a labor of love by your dedicated hosts.

Special thanks to the former employees and subcontractors of K. Murphy and Company of Elizabethtown, PA for their dedication and countless hours of difficult and often tedious work spent in the restoration of the Manor. Their vision, craftsmanship and pride were instrumental in the successful completion of our project.