The Bush House Estate
"NESTLED AMONG MAGNIFICENT BEECH TREES is the gracious brick home of Wyno Farms. Near Hall's Station, this land was once part of the Samuel Wallis estate. "
The original home was only a small two story house when it was built in the 1840s.
In 1867, Margaret Hall and her husband, the Reverend D. R. Dickinson, of New York City, added a large hall and two big rooms to the property, naming it "Margaret Hall."
The Dickinson's eldest daughter, Elizabeth, also married a New York minister, the Reverend A. D. Lawrence Jewett, who held church services under the large Beech in the east yard.
The Sun Porch Addition was added in the 1920s
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Jewett Mansion
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In 1912 the George Stearns family purchased the home, using it strictly as a summer home. "It is said that they never stayed overnight but would travel there from Williamsport, spend the afternoon sitting on the porches, and then make the long journey back. "
The Stearns added a front and side porch, and a barn to house the horse and buggy they used to get back and forth to Williamsport.
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WYNO
One of Louise & Edgar Munson's Three Homes
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The Junior League, of which Louise Munson was a founder, meeting at Wyno Farms in Muncy. In 1926, Louise was one of the founders of the Junior Charity Guild, a forerunner of the Junior League. From 1927 to 1929 she was the second president of the newly founded Women’s Club.
"In 1925, Mr. and Mrs. Edgar Munson purchased the property from Douglas Smith, who had begun renovating it. Mr. Munson was an attorney in Williamsport, while Mrs. Munson—nee Louise Franchot—was from an Olean, New York, oil family. She had been responsible for the interior decorating of the Governor's mansion in Harrisburg. With this background and knowledge, she set about building and rebuilding the old house."The Muncy Luminary quoted from an interview with Bush: “She did beautiful work to the home.. She knew the curators and went to their warehouses,” said Bush. In the powder room is Marie Antoinette’s original boudoir brought back from France."
Bush explained that a lot of the home’s history was recorded with the house, and original blueprints and work logs were discovered in the desk drawer in the upstairs ship room.
Munson had two cottages added to the property, to be used as guest houses and possibly for staff.
Unique Tea House on the landscaped grounds
The new look began with the name Wyno, an Indian word whose meaning is somewhere be-tween "good luck" and "welcome." The grounds, designed by a New York landscape architect, included a large stone terrace extending from the east porch to a small formal garden complete with an enchanting tea house.
Hand-carved mahogany pillars, obtained from a church in Guatemala, were used to construct this tea house. The bell beside it came from a South American monastery.
The Ships Cabin Bedroom
One of many outstanding features of the home is the unique ship's cabin located between the second and third floors. A naval architect was called in to supervise the construction of the "bedroom." Trimmed in mahogany, with floors of teak, complete with bunks and sliding door hatch, the visitor is at once attracted to the main mast and attached captain's desk. These are believed to have been part of Captain Horatio Nelson's quarters in his flagship at the battle of Trafalgar.
"Viewed from above, the elegance and design of this free-hanging spiral walnut staircase can be appreciated" It was said, in an early news article, that only three staircases like this one exist in the world."Mrs. Munson was influenced by many styles and brought them together in her home. Her style of combining can be seen in the stairwell. The center hall, with its elegant free-hanging spiral walnut staircase which soars upwards three stories, was copied from the Vanderbilt Mansion.
Imported marble was used generously to encase tubs and sinks. The powder room wall panels are thought to be from Marie Antoinette's boudoir. The carved Italian marble fireplace in the living room was purchased from an English estate.
As well as constructing a butler's pantry, the Munsons built a two-story addition; a living room containing nearly one thousand square feet, furnished as an indoor Italian Renaissance garden, and above it a bedroom and bath.
Murals, two and one-half feet high, which depict the preparation of a feast in "merry old England," appear on the upper walls of the butlers pantry and kitchen. These oil paintings were done by Ross Parke, who used people working on the farm at that time as subjects. Mr. Parke, whose studies at the School of Fine Arts, Yale University, are said to have been financed by Mrs. Munson, has been elected to the Royal Academy of Fine Arts of England. Prince Phillip serves as president of this group whose membership is limited to forty persons."
Wyno was just one of the three homes owned by the Munsons. The cottage in Eagles Mere had been in the Munson family since it was built in 1886. According to Barbara and Bush James, in Mere Reflections, a Unique Journey through Eagles Mere (1988), Louise was the acknowledged champion of extravagant house parties in Eagles Mere. In 1926, she “was determined to host a winter Christmas party in Eagles Mere. She paid to have the toboggan slide built and then hired a complete ice ballet company from New York City to perform for her guests.”
Edgar Munson died on October 4, 1930, at Wyno Farm, after a short illness. He was 49 and their children were in their teens and twenties. Louise continued to live in Muncy, where she had an antique store.
1940 Advertisement
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TUBERCULOSIS HOUSE
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After the death of Edgar Munson, the 325 acre farm stood vacant for a number of years before it was purchased by Dr. Roy Simon.
Dr Simon used the home for children suffering from tuberculosis and polio. He added a pool and started to build a great room, but in the process went bankrupt.===============
WYNO FARMS
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"No further additions were made until 1945, when Congressman and Mrs. Alvin R. Bush bought the house. Finding the place badly in need of repairs, the Bush family gave the home a major facelifting. Several barns were built and the acre-age increased from sixty to three hundred. It now supports a large dairy herd and is one of the outstanding working farms in this area. This continues despite suburban expansion and a nearby industrial plant. The present owners are assemblyman and Mrs. Alvin C. Bush."
The Bush family gave the house a major facelift and established a working dairy farm.
“He [Bush] fell in love with the place,” Charlie Bush reflected. “He spent 14 years here, and in 1950 he became Congressman.”
Peter J. McGovern, Charlie Bush and Congressman Alvin R. Bush
1956
1969 - Wyno Guernsey's "one of the nation's most famous herds" to be sold.
Congressman Alvin Bush with President Eisenhower
From the Biographical Directory of The United States Congress:
BUSH, Alvin Ray, a Representative from Pennsylvania; born on a farm in Boggs Township, Clearfield County, Pa., June 4, 1893; attended the public schools; at the age of thirteen started work as a laborer in Pennsylvania coal mines and later was an apprentice in a machine shop; during the First World War served overseas as a corporal with the Five Hundred and Forty-first Motor Truck Company; established an automobile repair business in Philipsburg, Pa.; purchased a bus line serving Philipsburg and neighboring communities, later becoming president and general manager of the Williamsport Transportation Co.; operated a dairy farm in Lycoming County, Pa.; director of Lowry Electric Co. and Muncy Valley Hospital; elected as a Republican to the Eighty-second and to the four succeeding Congresses and served from January 3, 1951, until his death in Williamsport, Pa., November 5, 1959; interment in Twin Hills Cemetery, near Montoursville, Pa.
Charlie Bush said his parents lived in the estate for awhile but eventually had to downsize and move to a smaller home in Williamsport.
Eventually the stables were torn down - Target is today located where the stables once stood.
===========The Bush House Estate
Wedding Venue
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The main property remained vacant for about 8 years, until Charlie Bush, grandson of the Congressmen, decided to form a family business, turning the estate into a venue.
"With a long gleaming history, the Bush House in Muncy Township has taken on a new life. Inspired by its owner, Charlie Bush and a fellow entrepreneur and caterer, David Miele established the 8 acre mansion as a venue for parties, weddings, corporate entertainment, dinners, and meetings."
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READ MORE
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Mrs Edgar Munson
Magazine Antiques. (1927). United States: Straight Enterprises.
Historic Wax Miniatures, 1935
Decorating Governors Mansion, 1935
Mrs Charles Yarbrough Duncan
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More About The Cows
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The History Of Bush House Estate
From the former Wedding Venue Website
History of Bush House Estate
The estate was originally built in 1847 by the Reverend D.R. Dickinson and his wife Margaret of New York City. The property is still referred to as “Margaret Hall” in the National Historic Register. The house passed down to their daughter, Elizabeth, and her husband, the Reverend A.D. Lawrence Jewett. The family used it as a summer home, becoming known in the area as the “Jewett Mansion.”
The mansion’s changing ownership
In 1912 Charles and George Stearns purchased the home and added a front and side porch. They also built the barn that still stands today.
Mr. and Mrs. Edgar Munson, a prominent attorney from Williamsport and an interior decorator from a wealthy New York family, bought the estate in 1925. Mrs. Munson began renovations to the home and gave it a new name – Wyno – a Native American word meaning both good luck and welcome. Mrs. Munson added stone terraces, formal gardens, and the tea house. She brought many elements of interior styles together including the free-hanging spiral staircase, a unique “ships cabin” room on the third floor, imported Italian marble, and she incorporated powder room panels originally from Marie Antoinette’s boudoir in France.
After Mr. Munson passed away, the house stood vacant for twelve years until it was purchased in 1940 by Dr. Roy Simon. The home remained unchanged until 1945 when Congressman Alvin R. Bush purchased the estate. The Bush family gave the house a major facelift and established a working dairy farm. The Bush family’s children grew up on the estate until the family downsized to a smaller home in Williamsport.
A new life for the elegant estate
In 2013, Alvin’s son Charles and his wife Carmen transformed the estate into a private family corporation under the Bush name. The couple has renovated and updated the mansion and cottages and the Bush House Estate Wedding and Event Venue has enthralled couples, guests, and visitors alike ever since.
SCHNEEBELI, Herman Theodore, a Representative from Pennsylvania; elected as a Republican to the Eighty-sixth Congress, by special election, to fill the vacancy caused by the death of United States Representative Alvin R. Bush, and reelected to the eight succeeding Congresses (April 26, 1960-January 3, 1977);
In 1971/2 when the Williamsport Post Office was added to the Historical Register, State Representative Schneebeli was NOT happy. He wanted to know how to get that rescinded, as "the community" wanted the post office torn down and a new building constructed on the site.
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/17vK3ishZs/
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Lee Yost, Muncy, Wyno Farm, PA, A national known dairy cattle Judge and promoter of the Guernsey breed. He was manager of Wyno Guernsey Farm, Muncy PA for 17 years. In 1941 he was honored as the best herdsman at the Pennsylvania Farm Show. In 1975 World Dairy Expo presented him with the Klusendorf trophy. In 1983 he was honored with the American Guernsey Breeders Association with the distinguished Service award. Lee received the All-American Dairy Show Image award. For 15 years he served as treasurer od the Pennsylvania Dairy & Allied Industries Association. Her was also employed by the Pennsylvania Guernsey Breeders Association for 15 years.
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From Homes and heritage of the West Branch Valley by Junior League of Williamsport (Pa,) 1968
