“Hope” is the thing with feathers –
That perches in the soul –
And sings the tune without the words –
And never stops – at all –
— Emily Dickinson
The Pennsylvania At Risk list makes a difference in changing the outcome for threatened historic properties — but we are never assured of a positive outcome. We do the work and we try not to lose hope.
The 87.5-acre Mifflin House property (York County) was added to Pennsylvania At Risk in 2017 when a warehouse development was proposed. The site, near the Susquehanna River, was once a stop on the Underground Railroad, giving fugitives a place to rest on their journey.
Preservation Pennsylvania attended hearings, supported local advocates, solicited pro bono legal counsel, worked through courts, and, in behind-the-scenes meetings, negotiated toward a positive outcome.
The Conservation Fund and the Susquehanna National Heritage Area worked with Preservation Pennsylvania to find a solution after a successful partnership a few years earlier on Camp Security (PA At Risk 2000).
Hope and hard work paid off when a deal was reached and the property was saved. It has now been transferred to the Susquehanna National Heritage Area (SNHA) which will create a publicly-accessible community amenity.
“Conserving and re-purposing the Mifflin House site as a visitor education center and heritage park will welcome travelers to our two-county National Heritage Area and showcase the significant role this region and its people played in America’s enduring Quest for Freedom. This place is important for its Underground Railroad and Civil War history — but it’s also important as an economic development tool for this region that will bring visitors here to Wrightsville and Columbia.”
—Mark N. Platts, SNHA President
Groundbreaking Milestone
On Friday, September 27th, about 60 of those who participated in the effort to protect and preserve this historic landscape celebrated a significant milestone at a Preservation Celebration and Groundbreaking ceremony at the farm. The event marked the culmination of the seven-year effort to protect this invaluable site from development and set the stage for its transformation into the Susquehanna Discovery Center & Heritage Park—a project expected to span five to ten years. Mindy Crawford, Executive Director of Preservation Pennsylvania, was among the speakers celebrating the momentous milestone.
According to the SNHA, the Mifflin House and the 160-year-old barn will be rehabilitated and eventually opened to the public, the first time the farm will be publicly accessible in 225 years. The barn will be transformed into a museum showcasing an extraordinary collection of Susquehanna River art. The surrounding 79-acre Heritage Park will offer walking trails and provide immersive interpretation of the pivotal 1863 Battle of Wrightsville, combining historic preservation, inclusive storytelling, economic development, outdoor recreation, land conservation, and watershed protection.