Local citizens interested in preserving Locust Grove Estate and its historic Haldeman Mansion formed “The Haldeman Society” in 1967. Aided by the Historic Preservation Trust of Lancaster County’s (HPTLC) decision to make the Mansion a pilot project, efforts to save the mansion began. Volunteers removed trash, tore out partitions erected when the structure was converted into apartments, and reclaimed the land from a near wilderness condition. The Society then procured a lease from the owner, $1 per year, with the stipulation the property shall be forever maintained and used as an historic site open to the public and the Society acknowledge it had “unique archaeological significance because of the presence on the premises of Native American village ruins and burial sites”.
In 1977, the Society incorporated as “The Haldeman Mansion Preservation Society, Inc.” On 3 August , of that year, the Locust Grove Estate’s Haldeman Mansion and premises were placed on the Pennsylvania and National Registers of Historic Places (NRHP). The Society was deeded full ownership of the property on July 31, 2019.
As a small, local grassroots, all volunteer organization, the HMPS has always operated on a cash basis to accomplish its preservation, restoration and maintenance work, raising funds via grants and hosting events, which also served to promote the history and cultural importance of the site. In recent years with the support of the architectural firm Citadel's Ana De la Fuente & Scott Paden and First Preservation Service's Tim Smedick progress has been made toward the property’s restoration.
We invite you to visit this website’s photo gallery to view restoration before and after photos and photos relating Locust Grove’s unique history.
