Susquehanna Discovery Center would bring new life to historical York County property

The goal is to preserve and adaptively reuse what already exists on the eastern York County property, uncovering a gem within a community already rich with stories and experiences.

The historic Mifflin House in Hellam Township, York County, has been an important topic of historical preservation for several years. Since 2017, the 1800s era farmhouse has gained interest for its unique connection to the Underground Railroad and the Civil War.

When its demolition was suggested to make way for more warehouses and development, community leaders stepped up to ask if there was something worth saving.

For the Susquehanna National Heritage Area, the Conservation Fund, Preservation PA, and other community members, the Mifflin House, its surrounding farm, and the nearby barns and outbuildings are now part of a larger vision known as the Susquehanna Discovery Center.

More than just an effort to preserve the history that’s been lived on that property, the vision for the Susquehanna Discovery Center would bring to life a gem within the community that has been tucked away for too long. It has the potential to be an entry point for all of the attractions and history the region has to offer.

A walk on the farm

Frank E. Dittenhafer II, LEED AP, Co-founder and President of Murphy & Dittenhafer Architects, won’t forget the day he first stepped onto the 70-plus acres of land owned by the Blessings family and Kinsley Properties.

“I’ve seen a lot of interesting places, but this one struck me as beyond rich with potential,” Dittenhafer says. “I was blown away.”

While the Mifflin House is the focal point of the property, there are two barns, offering an architectural vision of adaptive reuse. Dittenhafer saw an opportunity to turn the historic 19th century Pennsylvania German bank barn, with the 1930’s dairy barn addition, into a hub for exhibits, engaging lectures, and Susquehanna National Heritage Area office space.

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While parking lots and walkways would be added to the site to allow for visitor accessibility, there would be no new construction, Dittenhafer says. The goal is to preserve and adaptively reuse what exists, to bring new life to something that is already rich with stories and experiences.

Beyond the structures on the site, the terrain rolls up and down near the water features, which include a creek, lake, and the Susquehanna River. The view from a high point on the property to the river and beyond helps the imagination tell the story of Black Americans escaping slavery and seeking freedom across the Susquehanna. This site holds layers of stories that are waiting to be told, not just in oral or written forms, but in the vision that can be painted by someone gazing on the landscape.

A grassroots effort

Mark Platts, President of the Susquehanna National Heritage Area, didn’t see the potential of the property until all the players came to the table in one of the biggest grassroot efforts he’s ever had a chance to play a role in. His initial goals were to save the house, preserve the land, and ensure the stories of this historic site would not be lost to development.

“The deeper we looked, the bigger we knew this could be,” Platts says. “Boy, if we could be part of that, if we could make this vision come to life, it would be a pretty amazing accomplishment.”

The preserved land and buildings would be part of a bigger story for the nearby River Towns, and about eight acres of land would be set aside for future development. Platts envisions it being used for a hotel or other components that elevate the draw of visitors.

With an agreement to preserve the site close at-hand and a formal agreement expected to be in place by this summer, Platts hopes to have the land closed on by the end of the year. He admits that like most important projects, this one may also take time. He’s expecting a runway of 5 to 10 years before the final vision of the Susquehanna Discovery Center comes to life.

“I know that between now and then we’ll look for ways to get people out there,” he says. “That’s what did it for me, for Frank, for so many of us. It was seeing it in person. It was taking in that view and the property and imagining the potential. We want that for others.”

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