Borough of Mercersburg may sell historic Irwin House

Oh isn't this just PRICELESS!! Can he buy the house next to the fire dept too????

Maybe a light at the end of the tunnel at last. I will support whatever business this buyer puts there!

I would have to say "be careful what you ask for", Pat...

Sell the house after you spent $100,000.00 and still looks like a burned out building on the square. Good Choice! If people want information about the town go the chamber office that is waht it is for. Lets go the the fire company and do the same thing you did on the square waste more money and do nothing. Great Idea!

$100,000 grant (State tax dollars)+ however much the Borough paid (local tax dollars)= possibly as little as $10000 in return. Wow! Glad someone may buy it,but that's some funky financial wizardry.

pllleeasese get something done with it, we're all tired of looking at it every day and it's becoming a real joke.

I think Boro residents should be informed of the buyer, and his future plans & have us vote.

I have to agree with mercersburg mom. Seems like something here doesn't need history buffs blessing because it goes there way. Historical bunch wants to change the way we do business and vote to make things approved.Why wasn't the town involved?

Just a prime example of how hen things go your way there is not any nosie or complaints so way not leave the Fire Co do as they want?

What are you all doing over there? Nobody ever knows what your doing. I think everyone should relax. There are bigger problems for us all to worry about and I am sure that if the building is sold and renovated, that everything will work out. I think you all should be grateful that someone is willing to invest and provide improvements to that property.

Ha Ha, maybe the buyer is the lady who is buying the train cars and moving them across the country to have a "theme park" in Mercersburg. Does the anonymous buyer not realize as soon as the deed is transferred, we can all go to the courthouse and see who he or she is! Everything that is published in the PO regarding Mercersburg seems to be a big secret.

A Mercersburg businessman who wants to remain anonymous has said he wants to buy the historic Irwin House in the borough's downtown, according Tom Heefner, president of Mercersburg Borough Council.

Council has authorized solicitor Sam Wiser Jr. to prepare the paperwork so the borough can begin advertising for bids, he said.

"Originally we drafted a lease type of arrangement," Heefner said. "Somebody obviously heard of what we were doing. Evidently he approached (the borough manager) anonymously and said he did not want the lease agreement, but that he was interested in purchasing the building."

The businessman is a local person and nobody other than Borough Manager Jason Cohen knows who he is, Heefner said: "He asked to remain anonymous."

Sounds as though the boro is picking who they want to have this building and just going through the motions of the legal process.

The Irwin House was built around 1792. It was discovered in 2003 following a major fire. The fire had ripped through a 15-apartment building on the square known as the Carriage House. In December 2003, the borough purchased the cabin and began working to restore its historical integrity.

What happened to all the UDAG funds that were used to purchase the building and do the early work on the building? Your measely $10,000 bid won't nearly cover those cost. I thought the UDAG funds were supposed to be paid back? Have those funds been paid back?

In 2007, the borough received a $100,000 state grant to restore the cabin. The money came through the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development.

According to Heefner, "every penny" of the grant has been spent. The building now has windows, doors, a foundation and a back room to house utilities, he said. A new roof was done earlier, Heefner said.

Someone from the state should investigate this it seems a bit unethical.

mercersburg by choice wrote:

Ha Ha, maybe the buyer is the lady who is buying the train cars and moving them across the country to have a "theme park" in Mercersburg. Does the anonymous buyer not realize as soon as the deed is transferred, we can all go to the courthouse and see who he or she is! Everything that is published in the PO regarding Mercersburg seems to be a big secret.

How funny would that be??!!! Again, I say Priceless!!

something smells fishy. and whats with the requirement to display brochures and other stuff for the town? isn't that chamber business, and doesn't the boro hall already have that in the hallway? what if the buyer wants to use the property as a residence?

Wonderful news! I am baffled by these comments...reminds me of Frederick in the 70's when the old Fredericktonians fought change. They were eventually pushed out by the newcomers who wanted to beautify and preserve the city.

I think they should give it to Betty, since she runs the town, with the mayor in her bag pocket or in her Nicely prepared hair/wig that wouldn't move in an hurricane.

I have an idea. Why don't we all just fight this "annonymous buyer" and let it sit for another 10 or 20 years. Yea, let's figure something is fishy, and fight this whole thing so that we can have the borough keep managing the property. What a great idea. Or, let's have the public decide. Well, if the public want to vote on it, "mercersburg mom" then how about the public buy it, then they "we" public can invest a couple hundred thousand to fix it up and manage it. Open your eyes people! Get it done, and let someone who has an interest in this nightmare do the right thing!

Yes, please update the chain link fence, it's getting a bit shabby.

Well, seeing as there is no viable public interest in trying to revive the mercersburg downtown, ie. people choose to spend there dollars in chambersburg or hagerstown....BECAUSE THERE ARE NO OPTIONS in downtown, unless you need a beer or a bank; I applaud who ever would undertake such a project in such unstable economic times. This community needs private investors downtown to help give people a reason to frequent downtown. Thus building our sense of community and creating JOBS. Wake up Mercersburg it's not 1965. If you wanted to block something unscrupelous from our community you should have voted to keep McDonalds out.

dont not worry mercersburg, it be massage parlor. good ending to you busy day!!

I would like to see this property restored and put to good use. The town needs it. As the owner of 2 homes in Mercersburg, both from the 1790's, I feel that the Irwin House would be a great addition to the historic nature of Mercersburg. As far as the home that the fire department bought. It would be a shame for the oldest home in town to be destroyed. If they want to have office space and bunk space, although I don't know why they would need bunk space, then they should renovate that home for that use. It would be eligible for grants and I'm sure would be cheaper than building new!