BlfrUncMtef Farming, Saturday, February 1, 1992 Grube Family Surrounded By Rich History LOU ANN GOOD Lancaster Farming Staff LmTZ (Lancaster Co.) If you are a history buff who is intrigued by the glamour and mys tique of the famous, then the life of Judy and Don Grube would thrill you. The Grubes and their two child ren, Todd and Sherec, live in the Stiegel House and are caretakers for the Coleman Mansion near Brickerville. This former home of aristocrats brims with history, glamour, and a bit of mystery. It’s the house where Baron Stiegel amassed great for tune until his frivolous lifestyle forced him to sell the property to Robert Coleman who built a nine room addition and amassed 22,000 acres. For the past 14 years, the prop erty while owned by descendants of Robert Coleman, is home to the Grubes. Judy is quick to point out that living on the estate is not all glamour. It’s a lot of hard work both inside and outside the man sion to keep it in shape. In addition, the couple operate their own busi ness, Eton Grube’s Property Ser vices. which has mulch, firewood sales and offers custom skid loader and back hoe work. In the fall, Todd was admitted to DeVry Institute of Technology in Columbus, Ohio, on a full scholar ship for electronics engineering. His absence means that 16-year old Sheree and Judy need to help more with the business. They tend the business located along Route 322, load mulch with the skid load er and even split firewood with a splitter. Judy also does the bookkeeping. “Caring for the grounds and operating our business is a family family works together In their business called Don Gmbe’s Property Services. Here Don and Judy load firewood for a customer. The Coleman mansion on the left is connected to the Stelgel house i Gmbes) that hasa long connecting belfry wing that was usedto house oners of war during the American Revolution. affair and keeps us busy,” said Judy. “It takes seven to eight hours to mow the lawn and we hire neighbor kids to pick up sticks.” Despite the business, Judy admits the breathtaking beauty Of the grounds is exhilarating. The history of the Coleman Estates begins in 1746 when John Jacob Huber, an immigrant from Germany, acquired 400 acres of land on the northern end of Lan caster County where he amassed a fortune in ironmaking. About six years later, Heinrich Wilhelm Stiegel, an employee in the blast furnace married Huber’s daughter Elizabeth. Five years later, Stiegel with partners. Alex ander and Charles Stedman and John Barr, purchased the land from his father-in-law. Within .three short years, Stiegel increased the acreage to 10,544. Stiegel updated the Huber Fur nace and when the official opening ceremony was held, the torch which set the Furnace ablaze was held by his wife Elizabeth and christened Elizabeth Furnace. That same year, the surrounding lands were named Elizabeth Township. One year laler, Elizabeth died while giving birth to her second child. Elizabeth Furnace experi enced a building boom and in less than a year, Stiegel married another woman named Elizabeth. Judy said that during that era, people referred to the property as the Elizabeth Furnace Plantation because it was a village complete with schoolhouse, grist and saw mill, 2S tenant houses, a general store, blacksmith shop and wagon maker’s shop. Four of the buildings still stand ing today include the long stables with their flattened arch doorway. Although surrounded by the fascinating history of the rich and famous, the Grube family believe they live an ordinary life as caretakers of the Coleman Mansion. From left: Don, Judy, Todd, and Sherae Grube. the charcoal house where charcoal was stored to provide heat to melt the ore, the original home of John Jacob Huber, and the original ten ant worker’s house now used as a play house. A large stone outhouse containing two rooms, one for men and one for ladies, is still standing. Each side has three seats, one low enough for children. In 1763, the Baron began his glass blowing business for which he became famous. Bottle glass and windows known as Stiegel glass are rare but several pieces remain in the Coleman mansion. At first, it seemed that Stiegel was bom to amass fortunes, but unfortunately Stiegel. who claimed to be a baron although it was never documented, was prone to grandiose living and high risk business ventures and he ended up in debtor’s prison. It is said that Stiegel had a 75-foot tower erected where a watchman fired a cannon to salute the Baron and announce his arrival. Later, the Baron founded the town of Manheim and had a band and orchestra play whenever he approached the town. The towns people were expected to dance in the streets whenever the band play ed to greet the Baron’s arrival. After the Coleman family took over Elizabeth Furnace, they •motor the lesoian pile- jiKfing the Coleman Mansion are excellent for horserlding, which the Gnibe’s two duarter horses offer. <fli JP A PL during the 1700 s are still In good condition on the Coleman Mansion grounds. amassed a great fortune from the iron business. During the Revolutionary War, 70 Hessian prisoners of war were lodged in the Belfry addition. It was their job to dig a canal 6x6 feet to reinforce waters to run the wheel which drove the blast engine at the furnace. It is known as the Hessian Ditch and remains of it can still be found today. During die era when former President James Buchanan was Lancaster’s most eligible bache lor. Coleman’s daughter, Ann, fell in love with young James Bucha nan. When the relationship ended during a lover’s quarrel. Ann traveled to Philadelphia where she died suddenly and mysteriously. Although no legal evidence exists, it is rumored that she com mitted suicide. Her father must have believed Buchanan was responsible for his daughter’s death, because he refused to allow Buchanan to attend the funeral or visit his home again. It is believed that Buchanan never forgot Ann as he kept her portrait above the man tel in his Wheatland bedroom and he never married. Tragedy increased for the Cole man family when a younger Cole man daughter became romantical ly attached to William Augustus Muhlenberg, a minister for whom Coleman built a church. But when the minister attempted to hold evening services in the church, Coleman forebade the minister to visit his daughter. Two months after her father’s death, the daugh ter traveled to Philadelphia where she died as suddenly and mystcri- (Turn to Pago B 18) '
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers