Berwick to be used for municipal purposes. They stipulated that no changes could be made to the outside of the house.
Over the years, the Jackson Mansion housed City Hall, the Red Cross, the local Library, the police station, emergency manage- ment, civil defense and the Berwick Historical Society. The Borough of Berwick eventually outgrew the mansion. The question was – what would happen to the property? Luckily, friends Jim Stout and Gerald Kerschner (Gerald was the great grandson of the Jackson family’s coachman!) were involved in the Berwick Historical Society and stepped up to save this histori- cal treasure. I spoke with Jim Stout, Curator of the Jackson Man- sion about how the mansion became what it is today. There are far too many amazing stories regarding the mansion’s journey to include them all, but here are a few especially noteworthy ones: First, was the question of how to get the funds. Luckily, the Soci- ety possessed a donated copy of the 1733 Poor Richard’s Alma- nac, produced by Benjamin Franklin. The decision was made to sell it and use the proceeds for the mansion. After many apprais- als, the Almanac was deemed to be an original copy. It ended up at Sotheby’s in NYC, where it eventually sold for $556,500! Shockingly, it was one of only three copies of the original 1733 issue in existence. In the family Parlor is a Steinway Square Grand Piano. This is one of the items that was missing from the house; whether it was sold or given away in 1913, no one is sure. Jim Stout happened to be at an auction in a nearby town almost a century later and found a dilapidated, nearly ruined piano. No one wanted to buy it, but Jim decided to check with the seller later – on the day it was to be taken to disposal. He agreed to pick up that day. After the Historical Society got the piano and restored it, they checked the serial number with Steinway – and found it was reg- istered to C. G. Jackson! This very unique musical instrument, once part of the original house, had found its way home.
A look at Ben Franklin’s 1733 edition of “Poor Richard’s Almanack”
The restored Steinway Square Grand Piano in the family parlor.
The Jackson Mansion is on the National Register of Historic Places.
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