Harrisburg in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
William Maclay Mansion
Photographed By Beverly Pfingsten, March 15, 2008
1. William Maclay Mansion Marker
Inscription.
William Maclay Mansion. . Situated across this street is the home of William Maclay (1737-1804); statesman, surveyor, lawyer, the Country's first U.S. Senator and son-in-law of John Harris Jr., the founder of Harrisburg. It was Maclay and Harris who laid out the plan of Harrisburg in 1785 with the northern boundary, ironically, at South street. North of this point was located Maclay's farm and land known as Maclaysburg situated between the River and the hill where the Old Capitol would be constructed in 1822. Maclay's distinction of being the first U.S. Senator came after the Articles of Confederation provided for the organization of the new Federal government when the ninth state ratified the U.S. Constitution in 1788. Pennsylvania became the first state to elect its Senators through the State Legislature with Maclay being the first and Robert Morris, the second. Erected in 1792, Maclay's dwelling originally had the appearance of a simple stone farmhouse with high foundation and elevated first floor. In 1908, the home was purchased by William E. Bailey, a descendant of an early Harrisburg iron and steel industrialist family, who enlisted the expertise of City architect Miller Kast to transform the house into a Georgian Revival masterpiece. At that time, additions were made to the north, where a building housing the Harrisburg Academy once stood, and to the east. The mansion is now beautifully preserved by the Pennsylvania Bar Association, its current owner and occupant. , Top Photo , 1900 view of the William Maclay Mansion (right) and the Harrisburg Academy (left). , Bottom Photo , 1900 close-up view of the William Maclay mansion before alterations and additions.
Situated across this street is the home of William Maclay (1737-1804); statesman, surveyor, lawyer, the Country's first U.S. Senator and son-in-law of John Harris Jr., the founder of Harrisburg. It was Maclay and Harris who laid out the plan of Harrisburg in 1785 with the northern boundary, ironically, at South street. North of this point was located Maclay's farm and land known as Maclaysburg situated between the River and the hill where the Old Capitol would be constructed in 1822. Maclay's distinction of being the first U.S. Senator came after the Articles of Confederation provided for the organization of the new Federal government when the ninth state ratified the U.S. Constitution in 1788. Pennsylvania became the first state to elect its Senators through the State Legislature with Maclay being the first and Robert Morris, the second. Erected in 1792, Maclay's dwelling originally had the appearance of a simple stone farmhouse with high foundation and elevated first floor. In 1908, the home was purchased by William E. Bailey, a descendant of an early Harrisburg iron and steel industrialist family, who enlisted the expertise of City architect Miller Kast to transform the house into a Georgian Revival masterpiece. At that time, additions were made to the north, where a building housing the Harrisburg Academy once stood, and to the east.
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The mansion is now beautifully preserved by the Pennsylvania Bar Association, its current owner and occupant. Top Photo
1900 view of the William Maclay Mansion (right) and the Harrisburg Academy (left).
Bottom Photo
1900 close-up view of the William Maclay mansion before alterations and additions.
Erected by The Harrisburg History Project Commissioned by Mayor Stephen R. Reed.
Location. 40° 15.726′ N, 76° 53.295′ W. Marker is in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, in Dauphin County. Marker is at the intersection of N. Front Street and Academy Street, on the right when traveling south on N. Front Street. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Harrisburg PA 17101, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. William Maclay
Photographed By Beverly Pfingsten, March 15, 2008
3. William Maclay Mansion
Now the office of the Pennsylvania Bar Association.
Photographed By John K. Robinson, April 18, 2010
4. William Maclay Mansion eastern extension of 1908.
Photographed By John K. Robinson, April 18, 2010
5. William Maclay Mansion southern entrance from South Street
Credits. This page was last revised on December 5, 2019. It was originally submitted on March 16, 2008, by Bill Pfingsten of Bel Air, Maryland. This page has been viewed 2,841 times since then and 139 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3. submitted on March 16, 2008, by Bill Pfingsten of Bel Air, Maryland. 4, 5. submitted on April 18, 2010, by John K. Robinson of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.