We were so thrilled to host the first open house at the Mansion this last weekend. Growing up passing the Mansion every day, I’d been curious about the inside for decades- and I knew I wasn’t the only one. I had no idea over 400 people would show up!

As far as I know, this was the first time the public has been let into the Mansion since the 1940s! For such a notorious building, that’s mind boggling to me and I hope that will change while we own the building. If you want to hear more about our progress and be invited to the next open house, please subscribe to the newsletter below.

It was so much fun to hear about people’s stories from the Mansion and see reactions about what’s changed and what’s stayed exactly the same. One of my favourite things about the Mansion is its close connection with the town. Some of the things I learned:

• Someone remembered building the tree fort on the North side of the building- which is still there, albeit buried under lilacs.

• Someone else remembered putting up all the wallpapering and sheetrock in the ballroom.

• We heard that the third floor had been locked up for years, even while the bottom was inhabited.

• Various family members were employed to cut grass or otherwise maintain the property.

• I spoke with the firefighter who responded to the fire in the dining room, cutting away at the ceiling to prevent further damage.

If you have stories, pictures, or a connection you’d like to share, I’d love hear from you! The email we’re using is SomersMansion@gmail.com

Thanks :) -Jasmine