Drive down Centre Street in Philipsburg, Centre County, and one of the colonial revival style homes is bound to catch your eye.
One in particular was once the 1873 Rowland Mansion at 126 South Centre Street. It has been home to the Whispering Sisters Bed and Breakfast since 2003.
“It wasn’t until a couple years back that I found out it was a bed and breakfast, but it looks like one of those huge Victorian houses that’s beautiful and you’d always love to go into it,” said Breanna Lockett, whose grandparents live in the area.
The building, with its two story wrap-around verandah and paired columns was home to U.S. House Representative Charles Hedding Rowland. It is now on the National Register of Historic Places. The building was put on the market in June 2015 but was never sold. Now, an online auction is open to sell all of the inn’s furniture and knick-knacks.
“I think it’s kind of sad because I feel like an apartment building it would still be wonderful to live in to it,” Lockett said, “but it’s so much more special as a bed and breakfast because it’s shared to the whole community.”
Take a walk around the porch and you will see orange tags on the items up for auction, like benches, tables, flower pots and statues. Items on the inside are also being auctioned like an organ, lamps and a silverware set.
The auction, run by Hostetter Auctioneers, will close August 30th.
The owner said she plans to come up from Florida to help move everything out, starting bright and early on Monday, August 29th.
To check out the items for auction, click here: http://bid.hostetterauctioneers.com/view-auctions/catalog/id/13328/
