Adam Orris House, Second Empire residence in Mechanicsburg, US.
Adam Orris House is a Second Empire residence in Mechanicsburg featuring a mansard roof, decorative cornices, and ornate window treatments that define the style. Built in 1887, the structure spans approximately 4,800 square feet and includes five bedrooms, multiple bathrooms, formal living spaces, and a two-car garage with adjoining garden areas.
The house was constructed in 1887 during the height of Second Empire popularity in affluent American communities of the late 1800s. Its listing on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978 recognized its importance to Pennsylvania's architectural heritage.
The residence displays carved mantels, cherry hardwood floors, and early wallpaper designs that show how affluent 19th-century Americans furnished their homes. These details reveal what materials and finishes mattered most to families with means during that era.
The house sits in a well-established residential neighborhood of Mechanicsburg and is easy to locate; viewing the exterior facade and roofline from the street is recommended. Since it remains private property, visitors should respect the outdoor vantage point and expect no interior access.
Initials remain carved into the stairwell by the original owner's son, providing a direct link to the house's first inhabitants. These personal marks offer a rare glimpse into the everyday moments of a late-19th-century family.
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