This book was lovingly created to commemorate our 25th anniversary on New Year’s Eve 2022.
Introduction
“When everything is weighed, Sharon’s outstanding citizen has been Frank H. Buhl, whose long term of residence enabled him to place millions in Sharon’s iron, coke and steel industries; whose investments in the West provided a means of living for thousands; whose underwritings in the Philippines and millions in benefactions in France and Belgium have made him a world figure. As one reads on the inscription on his bronze bust at the William McKinley Memorial at Niles, Ohio, he was ‘a constructive citizen, a beloved philanthropist, a friend of the people and a pioneer manufacturer of iron and steel.’”
~
Sarah Graham Morrison of The Sharon Herald
The story of the Buhls, their mansion, and their everlasting legacy both in the Shenango Valley, America and abroad cannot start without the phrase “Once upon a time…”. Frank H. and Julia F. Buhl were beloved citizens of Sharon and are often credited with much of the growth of industrial, recreational, and cultural institutions here, and rightfully so. Without the Buhls’ generosity, the Shenango Valley would be drastically different, as would other cities in the West, and in Europe. In the following pages, you will discover the inspiring lives of the Buhls as well as the remarkable history of the Frank H. Buhl mansion. We have compiled years of research into a comprehensive text showcasing the most important and critical details to understand Frank H. and Julia F. Buhl.
You will also get a glimpse into the lives of Buhl Mansion’s current owner, Donna C. Winner, and her late husband James E. Winner, Jr. who paralleled many of the Buhls’ attributes not only in their entrepreneurial spirit but in their philanthropy.
We welcome you to sit back and enjoy the fairytale…
The grand staircase looked like something from a Shakespeare play with its “Romeo and Juliet’’inspired balconade overlooking the reception hall in 1936. The massive stained glass window, designed by the Tiffany Studios in New York, featured the Buhl family coat of arms surrounded by floral motifs. Note the shield and armored helmet. Mr. Buhl’s initials were prominently featured, F. H. B.
The new stained glass window, designed for Jim and Donna Winner with their monogram.
Buhl Family Tree
To understand Frank Buhl, it’s important to know a bit about his family
Zelienople, Pennsylvania Beginnings
Christian Buhl Sr. (1776-1864)
Christian Buhl Sr. was the grandfather of Frank H. Buhl. The Buhl family legacy began in the early 19th century when Christian Buhl Sr. emigrated from Saxony, Bavaria to Zelienople, Pennsylvania. He was a furrier, producing fine quality felt used for hat-making. He lived as a bachelor along the Connoquenessing River until 1805 when he married Fredericka Goehring (1778-1868) and built the family homestead on the main street of Zelienople. The “Buhl House” is now owned and operated by the Zelienople Historical Society as a museum for the town and the Buhl family.
The Buhl House, built circa 1805 in Zelienople, Pennsylvania, stands preserved by the Zelienople Historical Society as a museum.
Ten of the Christian Buhl children survived to adulthood. Throughout the world, these descendants have built a strong family legacy.
“The Buhl name has been particularly well-known in both the Pittsburgh, PA area and the Detroit, MI area since the early 19th century. Businesses, parks, buildings, athletic and recreational centers, a planetarium and educational center, plus three cities in the US have been identified with the Buhl name.”
~ The Story of Christian Buhl and his Descendants by Gertrude Mohlin Ziegler
Detroit, Michigan Connection
Christian Henry Buhl (1810-1894)
Christian H. Buhl was the father of Frank H. Buhl. He married Caroline DeLong (18241899) and their descendants not only left a major impact on Western Pennsylvania, but on Detroit, Michigan. Christian H. Buhl was the first Republican Mayor of the City of Detroit in 1860 and 1861.
“If the Motor City has a family tree, Christian Buhl and his descendants helped plant it.” ~ Detroit Times, 2001
In 1833 after the fur trade began to dwindle in Western Pennsylvania, Christian Henry Buhl and his brother Christian Frederick Buhl moved to Detroit, Michigan to work for a successful hatter in the city. Soon afterwards, the owner passed away and the two brothers bought the business and developed their own fur and hat business aptly named F. & C. H. Buhl. They carried on the family motto: “Sell the best goods obtainable, deal fairly – and HUSTLE!!” The Buhl Building, built by his grandsons in Detroit’s Financial District, stands upon the site of the original 1833 Buhl Brothers Hat & Furrier Shop at the corner of Griswold and Congress.
Christian Henry Buhl
Christian Henry Buhl left the fur business to his brother Frederick in the 1850s when he opened his own company. He founded the Buhl Iron Works and merged it with the Detroit Locomotive Works to begin a long line of metal manufacturing. He also started Buhl & DuCharme, one of the country’s largest wholesale hardware companies, which lasted 107 years. He helped develop the City of Detroit by investing in railroads and banks. Christian Henry Buhl’s brother Christian Frederick also served as the Mayor of Detroit.
In 1865, Christian Henry Buhl decided to invest money into a Western Pennsylvania manufacturing facility named the Sharon Iron Company, which had originally been formed in 1850. The name changed to Westerman Iron when he became sole owner. Christian transferred full ownership to his son, Frank Henry Buhl in 1887. By 1888 - the same year of Frank and Julia Forker’s wedding - the Buhl Iron Company had become the largest single business in Mercer County, employing 700 men. Christian’s initial investment into the Shenango Valley’s steel industry opened the doors for Frank to create his local legacy.
Working in local steel and iron mills was hard work, often costing workers their lives due to the dangerous conditions. This 1888 photo shows some of the men who worked in the Sharon Iron Co. mill, also known as Westerman or Buhl Iron Co.
Theodore DeLong Buhl (1844-1907) and his offspring
Theodore DeLong Buhl, Frank Buhl’s brother, remained in Detroit and married Julia Elizabeth Walker (1847-1928). Julia Elizabeth Walker was the daughter of distillery magnate Hiram Walker. Theodore took over his father’s Detroitbased hardware business (Buhl & DuCharme) and renamed it Buhl Sons Company. Under his direction, the Company became one of the world’s largest hardware wholesalers. In addition to the hardware business, Theodore was one of the developers of the Detroit Copper & Brass Rolling Mills, Buhl Malleable Company, and most notably Parke Davis Pharmaceuticals of which he was President and Co-Founder. He and his family were vacationing at the Waldorf Astoria in New York City when he died on the street of a heart attack. When he died, the New York Times wrote “a giant has fallen.”
Theodore was the only descendant of Christian Henry Buhl to have any children. The family legacy continued with his son Arthur Hiram Buhl who worked with his uncle Frank Buhl in Sharon, Pennsylvania at the Iron Works at age 14 and eventually became Secretary of the company. He later served as President of Buhl Sons Company and Vice President of Parke Davis Pharmaceutical Company. Another son, Lawrence DeLong Buhl, developed Buhl Aviation Company and Buhl Land Company. In 1925, Designed by James Anderson, the Buhl, DuCharme & Company building, pictured here circa 1881, was built at 351 West Woodbridge in downtown Detroit in 1871-72.
Theordore DeLong Buhl
he and his brother Arthur opened the 26-story office building still known as the Buhl Building, on the site of the original family hat store in the Financial District of Detroit. The Buhl Land Company opened and managed 75 commercial buildings at one time. Willis Edward Buhl, Arthur and Lawrence’s brother, married Louise Ziegfeld, who was the sister of Florenz Ziegfeld Jr. of the Ziegfeld Follies.
Theodore “Teed” D. Buhl II, was Willis and Louise (Ziegfeld)
Buhl’s son (Frank Buhl’s great nephew) and one of Detroit’s most eligible millionaires, a Yale graduate, socialite, sportsman, and owner of a stable of race horses. Theodore (“Teed”) had the chance to meet and then marry Anastasia “Stasia” Reilly on October 7, 1927. Anastasia was a former Ziegfeld Follies dancer who later was the co-owner of Grosse Pointe News. While at Yale University, Theodore met John Ringling North, owner of Barnum & Bailey Circus. Theodore and Anastasia were close friends with many of the circus cast including the famous Emmett Kelly (the wellknown clown), who named his first daughter Anastasia after Anastasia Buhl. Arthur Godfrey, American radio and television broadcaster and entertainer, taught Anastasia to play the guitar. The family would go on to be prominent in regional and global affairs, marrying into other well-known families including Henry Ford’s.
The Buhl Building in Detroit is one of the most iconic and recognizable skyscrapers within the city’s financial district. Built in 1924-25 by brothers Lawrence and Arthur Buhl on the site of the original 1849 F. & C.H. Buhl hat store on the corner of Congress and Griswald Streets.
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Ties
Henry Buhl Jr. (1848-1927)
Henry Buhl Jr. was Frank Buhl’s cousin and contemporary. Henry Buhl Jr. was the son of Henry Buhl and Christine Speyerer. He left Zelienople and went into business with Russell H. Boggs of Pittsburgh. Together they created and opened Boggs and Buhl Department Store on Pittsburgh’s North Side in 1869. In its heyday, Boggs and Buhl was compared to Chicago’s Marshall Fields. Keeping it all in the family, Henry Buhl Jr.’s sister, Maria Christina Buhl (1844-1919), married his business partner, Russell H. Boggs in 1866. Henry married Louise Miller, who like Frank and Julia, had no children. Upon Henry’s death he left a significant part of his $11 million estate to create the Buhl Foundation, various educational and historical facilities, and Buhl Planetarium - the fifth major planetarium in America. He was on the Board of Trustees at Grove City College from 1898 until his death in 1927 and the library at the college is named in his honor. The Buhl Foundation has helped improve the quality of life in the City of Pittsburgh for nearly 100 years including providing the initial grant to the Pittsburgh Symphony Society to create a world-class Symphony Orchestra in the city.
The Buhl Planetarium was just one of several donations from Henry Buhl’s multimillion dollar estate after his death in 1927. Sometimes called the “Theatre of the Stars”, the planetarium cost over $1 million to construct in Pittsburgh’s North Side.
Henry Buhl Jr.
Frank and Julia Buhl’s Legacy
Together they could conquer the world with love and humility
Frank Henry Buhl
August 3, 1848 - June 7, 1918
Born in Detroit, Michigan to Christian Henry and Caroline DeLong Buhl
Julia S. Forker
May 29, 1854 - June 3, 1936
Born in Mercer, Pennsylvania to Henry and Selina Porter Forker
“Buhl was stocky in build, past the middle of life, the typical retired captain of industry who has fought and won the battle of life. Buhl, grizzled, rugged of face, lover of rich food and entertainment, the pursuer of wealth. Buhl’s mustache and hair were iron gray. [Mrs. Buhl and her sister] were gracious ladies, more fond of home life and domestic pursuits than they were of dress and society.”
~ Hamilton Pearce, The Kidnaping of Billy Whitla
The Fairytale
United in matrimony on February 8, 1888
Julia S. Forker, whose father Henry Forker operated coal mills in Mercer County, Pennsylvania, caught the eye of the young Yale University graduate, Frank H. Buhl, when Frank’s father sent him to Sharon to learn and operate their burgeoning steel plant. Frank had wanted to take Julia back to Detroit with him and she refused to leave her “hills of Sharon”. Rumor has it that Julia turned down his proposals of marriage four times before he finally convinced her to marry him. After their courtship, they finally wed in 1888, and Frank built her the castle of her dreams as a wedding present.
“Standing under a suspended arrangement of fragrant roses and white hyacinths, Frank Henry Buhl and Julia Forker exchanged tender glances. The couple, obviously in love, was getting married. Frank was the son of Christian Henry Buhl, owner of the Sharon Iron Co., and Julia was the daughter of Mrs. Selina Porter Forker, in whose homes on Sharon’s East Hill, they were getting married that wintry evening. Julia wore a white satin gown trimmed with duchess lace and flowers. Dangling from a neck chain was a pendent of diamonds and emeralds, a gift from Frank. The stocky industrialist, with thick dark hair… gazed lovingly at Julia, who was six years younger. She returned his smile. Bringing the couple together in marriage was the Rev. G. W. Williams, rector of St. John’s Episcopal Church. The marriage at 5 p.m. February 8, 1888, took place six months after Buhl’s return to Sharon to assume management of the 700-employee Iron Works, Mercer County’s largest industry. The bride and groom and guests from the Shenango Valley, Detroit, Pittsburgh and elsewhere, danced to the music of the Germania Orchestra of Cleveland, Ohio. The elaborate supper was prepared by Hagan, one of Pittsburgh’s best known caterers. The newlyweds, happily showered with rice and best wishes, departed three hours later for their honeymoon trip to Washington, D.C., Old Pointe Comfort and New York. Upon their return they moved into a 10-room frame home near Mrs. Forker’s home; living there until they built their dream house, a 14-room stone mansion.”
~ The Sharon Herald
The original Buhl “mansion” was a gray, 10-room, wood frame house built around the American Civil War. It was moved to the rear of the property and used as the Gardener’s Cottage until being demolished.
The Buhl mansion as it would have appeared circa 1906, about a decade after being completed.
Captain of Industry, Forged in Steel
Frank Buhl built an empire to which we credit our city’s growth
Frank H. Buhl came to Sharon, Pennsylvania in 1867 after graduating from Yale University, and went to work for the Sharon Iron Works after his father had invested in the Company. Frank worked at the Sharon Iron Works for 5 years before becoming Plant Manager and then Superintendent.
Buhl returned to Detroit in 1878 to work with his brother and direct Detroit Copper and Brass Rolling Mill for 9 years. In August of 1887, Frank came back to Sharon; his father transferred ownership and management of the 700-employee Sharon Iron Works to Frank, changing the name to Buhl Company.
Steel and iron became the primary industries of the Shenango Valley due to the Shenango River and the presence of “Sharon Block” Coal, ideal for heating blast furnaces for manufacturing. This circa 1916 postcard shows the steel mills in Sharon, Pennsylvania.
The Buhl Steel Company was formed in 1896 with Frank H. Buhl as President. Three years later, the Buhl Steel Company was absorbed by the National Steel Company. After the merger, Buhl co-founded Sharon Steel Castings and Sharon Steel Company. In starting the Sharon Steel Company, he founded the town of South Sharon (later to be named Farrell in honor
of an early president of US Steel). Frank Buhl would later establish the Sharon Steel Hoop Company which operated plants in both Sharon and Youngstown, Ohio. Sharon Steel Hoop would become the Sharon Steel Corporation which was still operating until the 1990s. Today, most of the mills are operated by NLMK, a Russian steel manufacturer, or other industrial businesses.
Around the turn of the 20th century, J. P. Morgan, head of the Steel “Trust” had taken over many steel operations across the United States. He threatened Frank Buhl, and his partner John Stevenson, with bankruptcy. Buhl and Stevenson eventually sold out to Morgan in 1902 for $13 million. Emerging out of the consolidation was US Steel Corporation of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
The Sherman Antitrust Act was passed by Congress in 1890, but was enacted with the election of Theodore Roosevelt as President in 1901. Known as the “Trust Buster,” Roosevelt took actions against monopolies, concentrating on financier Morgan and his US Steel Corporation. Morgan was indicted in 1902 – too late to save Buhl’s Sharon Steel Company. After US Steel absorbed both National Steel and Sharon Steel Companies, Buhl retired from the industry.
Mining, Land, Irrigation & Railroad Success
Both here and abroad he left his mark, he was a true industrialist…
“Sharon Block” Coal was available only in the Shenango Valley area surrounding Sharon and in a small portion of Alabama. This coal was ideal for the production of iron and steel because it created minimal dust and maximum energy to heat the furnaces in the mills. By the early 20th century, the mines in the Shenango Valley were too deep for the techniques of the day and many flooded. Miners then moved to eastern Mercer County, Pennsylvania to harvest coal, causing Frank Buhl to start Buhl Water Company in Springfield Township near Grove City. To feed Frank’s steel companies, he began to go out of state to purchase land for iron ore mining.
While locating iron ore for his steel company, Buhl purchased land in Minnesota to explore and mine for iron ore. He platted the 40-acre townsite and donated 6 blocks back to the community for the town center. Prior to Buhl’s arrival, there were less than 200 residents in that area of Minnesota. During the prime mining years, the town had grown to a population of 900. When the town incorporated in 1900, the residents debated on the name for their growing town: Buhl or Sharon – in honor of Frank Buhl and his Sharon Ore Company. The town was named Buhl, Minnesota and is “The Heart of the Iron Range.”
Buhl, Minnesota sometime after Frank H. Buhl’s investment in the iron ore range there, likely circa 1910.
Apparently, land development piqued Buhl’s interest. In 1903, after selling off his interests in the steel manufacturing business, Buhl went West again to inquire about purchasing another mining operation. Discovering that the mine had already sold, he decided to investigate a proposed irrigation project in southern Idaho. Buhl, in partnership with former Sharon resident and lifelong friend Peter Kimberly, began a new business venture. With Kimberly, then living in Chicago, Illinois, together they founded a development company known as The Buhl-Kimberly Corporation. Construction on the irrigation project began in 1903, and by 1905 the water had been diverted by the Milner Dam on the Snake River in Idaho. Through their partnership, the Snake River was dammed creating the third largest irrigation project in the world, known as the Twin Falls South Side Project.
The Front Office
The grand fireplace in the Music Room was decorated with ribbons and filigree. Note the chandelier and crown molding.
Originally Julia F. Buhl’s Music Room, the Front Office is where the dedicated staff conduct the business necessary to run the mansion, including reservations, tours, and more. When the Buhls lived in the mansion, a baby grand piano had sat in the turret. Mrs. Buhl was a pianist and flutist. The walls of the room had been decorated with a hand-painted mural of several rose varieties, a favorite flower of Julia. Unfortunately, due to layers of paint and wallpaper over the decades the mural could not be salvaged. However, fortunately the original turret windows, which feature bowed wood and glass – a feature that would be difficult and expensive to replicate today, remain. The crown molding is true to design as well, repaired and replicated where damaged. Mr. Buhl’s original roll-top desk is still used in this room.
The Front Office was originally Mrs. Buhl’s Music Room. She played the flute and piano so she had to have her own room. Note the baby grand piano. It’s pictured here in 1936.
The reception hall, or foyer, of the Buhl mansion was the first room visitors would experience when entering the home. Rich in woodwork, many of the original furnishing came from a 17th-century French castle of the Napoleonic period. The tall grandfather clock on the left is now on display at the Buhl-Timblin Casino building at Buhl Farm Park.
Greeting guests from the wintry cold, this pink sandstone fireplace alcove with built-in benches was a welcome relief for the Buhls visitors, shown in 1936. Surrounded by quarter-sawn oak, commonly known as tiger oak for its striped pattern, the fireplace mantel reads “Good Friends, Good Fire, Good Cheer” – a motto of the Buhl family.
The Double Parlour
Originally a “living room” for the Buhls, the Double Parlour was decorated in rich reds and golds and was where many of the Buhls’ parties were hosted. At one point, a vagrant lived here and burned whatever woodwork he needed to keep warm. A portion of the wall had caught fire and a 12-foot square portion of the ceiling had collapsed because of a burst pipe. The ceiling is all original except for that section. After experimentation with several materials and techniques to perfectly match the damaged area, it was suggested that car Bondo be used. It was found to be the perfect material for the replication. It took the artist 9½ weeks to paint all the intricate details. The room required a mixture of four different white paints to match the original white used in 1896. The Double Parlour features one of only four fireplaces that has survived over the decades. Every pillar is original except for the two largest in the middle of the room. The originals were removed when the house was converted into apartments in 1956 by the Forkers. The paintings hung in the mansion today are replicas. It was the wish of the Winners to provide a place accessible by the average person to see the fine works. These were created by an elite school in Florida where artists restore original paintings. These works, seen throughout the property, are museum quality, replicating the materials and techniques, down to the last brush stroke, of the original artist.
The Library
Originally the Dining Room, the Library features original woodwork such as the coffered, or beamed, ceiling, wainscoting, and window casings made of quartersawn oak, commonly known as “tiger oak”. The fireplace is original to the mansion, though it was relocated from the Reception Hall, or Foyer, when the Forkers renovated the mansion into apartments. The original fireplace was removed, though photographs show it had shoulder high glazed tile with an intricate arched motif mantle. An oblong, red velvet chandelier hung over the large oak table which would have graced this room. Where the bookshelves are today, a large built-in buffet housed the Buhls precious China, used for elegant dinner parties and meals.
A mix of Gilded Age and modern furniture is seen in this 1936 photograph. This was the Double Parlour, or Drawing Room. The walls and ceiling have a wedding ring and musical instrument Rococo plasterwork design, still present today. Beyond this room was the formal dining room, seen in the far back. A long oak dining table under a red velvet and wrought-iron chandelier graces the room. A floor-to-ceiling fireplace with square glazed tiles and arches carved in wood was on the southern wall.
The Double Parlour and Foyer
The Sunroom
Originally the Kitchen and Butler’s Pantry the Sunroom featured floor to ceiling, wall-sized ice boxes. Ice boxes on the exterior walls of a home, especially in the rear, was a mark of great wealth. When ice was delivered it could be loaded into the ice boxes from outside rather than being dragged through the mansion. The Forkers made this into their Living Room, adding new windows overlooking the grounds. Today, the mansion’s guests dine in this room for breakfast and a light lunch that accompanies spa services.
The Formal Dining Room
Originally the Library, or Den, the Formal Dining Room would have housed the large collection of publications owned by the Buhls and is said to have been used as a “quiet room” for the Buhls’ nieces and nephews. Prior to her death, Mary B. (Forker) McDowell, the great niece of Frank and Julia Buhl, visited with the staff of Buhl Mansion and recounted her precious childhood spending hours in this room visiting with her Aunt Julia.
The hardwood floors and the coffered ceiling are original. The ceiling is black walnut, though it has been stained cherry or mahogany over the years.The detailed “carving” near the ceiling is actually wallpaper, stained mahogany, called Lin Crusta. The current Dining Room furniture is one the most complete, antique formal dining set one will find. It was made in the 1850s, prior to the American Civil War, and was purchased at an estate auction in New York. The set has every leaf for the table, every chair, and every cabinet made for the set. The buffet and one of the china cabinets have hidden drawers. This room also features 3 original paintings by William Earl Singer, an artist of the Mid-Century Modern era who worked in the Impressionist style. An original dining chair from the Buhls dining set was found at auction and is in this room along with the Winner Collection of Bone China made, and hand-painted, for the Winner Family. The room may be used for small events and dinners.
The Library
The Sunroom
The Formal Dining Room
The Grand Staircase
Originally the Grand Staircase had a rounded balconade overlooking the Reception Hall, or Foyer, reminiscent of a balcony in Romeo and Juliet. Here one can envision Julia Buhl welcoming guests; behind her the breathtaking beauty of an enormous fan-shaped stained glass window with the family crest of the Buhls. The stained glass in the mansion is thought to have been designed by Tiffany & Co. of New York City. The original staircase was removed from the mansion when the house was subdivided into apartments. It is uncertain of the fate of the original stained glass window, which was boxed and stored in the basement in the 1970s. During the 199697 renovations, two local ladies, Donna Kissinger and Laura Green were commissioned to design the stained glass window seen today. In honor of Jim and Donna Winner, they designed a “family crest” using the couples’ initials in the design.
Mrs. Buhl’s Bedroom
Originally the Bedroom of Julia F. Buhl, the room is now one of 10 overnight guest rooms. The Buhls had separate bedrooms – a common practice of the Victorian Era. A bathroom connected their bedrooms. The doors and window frames are original bird’s eye maple. It is from these windows that Frank and Julia sat and watched the very first ever Buhl Day Parade in 1915.
Mr. Buhl’s Bedroom
Frank’s bedroom was in the northeast room, next to his Den to the south. A lover of fine woods, Frank chose a combination of curly maple, bird’s eye maple, and quarter-sawn oak (tiger oak) to grace his bedroom, library and bathroom. These fine woods have been preserved over the decades as well as an original red glazed tile fireplace. The ceiling features a wallpaper known as Anaglypta that was painted copper to mimic a tin ceiling.
The Foyer and Grand Staircase
Second Floor, Mrs. Buhl’s Bedroom
Second Floor, Mr. Buhl’s Bedroom
Mr. Buhl’s Den
Many tales are told of the quirks of the Buhl couple. Both strong-willed, Frank wanted to have his Den on the front of the mansion, overlooking East State Street. Julia vetoed his request, by speaking to the builders herself, after he announced that he didn’t want lace curtains in his Den. Julia insisted that curtains on all windows facing State Street would have lace curtains. This room features an original chartreuse glazed tile fireplace and original woodwork. It is said that this is the only fireplace in the mansion not accompanied by a screen as Mr. Buhl insisted on an unobstructed view of the fire. The deep blue rug which was in this room during the time of the Buhls was burned from flying embers from the fireplace.
The Third Floor
Originally the Ballroom where lavish parties were held, the third floor is now 5 overnight guestrooms. The Ballroom also had 2 bedrooms used for outof-town guests. The flooring is original, the ruts seen are from neighborhood children who roller-skated when a party was not taking place. A dome of red and pink stained glass hung here from 1900 until being removed in 1936-37. During the Winner’s restoration, local artist, Victor Bucciarelli, painted the mural of cherubs and formal gardens using a stencil and airbrush technique. The crystal chandelier is the largest in the mansion. During the time the Buhls lived in the mansion the only access to the 3rd floor was the back staircase. Mrs. Winner had a beautiful oak staircase added to give the guests a grand entrance to the top floor guest rooms. The largest turret on the mansion on the northwest corner is hollowed out from the floor to its peak at 28 feet.
The Spa
Originally the basement of the mansion, the Spa opened in 2000 while the restoration of the upper floors was completed in 1997. When the home was purchased by the Winners, the basement walls were brick or stone and the floor was dirt. The floors of the Spa are now made of cement. The cement was poured in sections and before it set, large rubber stamps were
Second Floor, Mr. Buhl’s Den
Third Floor, Park Place
Third Floor, Tropical Nights
Buhl Mansion Guesthouse & Spa
Built and Maintained on Love
Feel like royalty at our castle, built in the 1890s by industrialist and philanthropist Frank H. Buhl as a wedding present for his wife Julia (Forker). One hundred years after the Buhls moved into their home, another entrepreneurial couple rescued the mansion from neglect and abuse. James E. Winner, Jr. and his wife Donna (Carey) took on a labor of love when they purchased the estate and began the decades-long mission of being the Buhl Mansion caretakers, bringing the home back to its original grandeur.
Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, Buhl Mansion Guesthouse & Spa is full of history and romance and offers the ultimate in royal hospitality, luxury, and pampering. Lavishly appointed guestrooms include fireplaces and jetted tubs. Our full-service spa offers dozens of luxurious and relaxing treatments. The Richardsonian Romanesque “castle” and the beautifully manicured grounds are the perfect setting for romantic getaways, spa retreats, executive meetings, and castle weddings.
We welcome you to read a little bit about our rich history and we invite you to come stay with us, enjoy our spa, or host an event at our beautiful property and get drawn into the romance of times gone by.
