Tour the lavish homes of the Bramwell millionaires

Last updated: May 23, 2019

You’re invited to step back in time. The Historic town of Bramwell’s Spring Tour of Homes, scheduled for June 4, will whisk you away on a timeless tale of life in the early 1900s. From tea parties to balls, the ladies and gentlemen of Bramwell lived quite differently than we do today.

Walk down the brick streets lined with historic mansions and beautiful gardens. Peek inside homes built for lavish lifestyles. Formal dining rooms with crystal chandeliers above priceless table settings give hints about a generation that lived in luxury.

Bramwell, tucked away in Mercer County, is home to elaborate houses , all built during the early 1900s by wealthy coal owners and operators. Those homes still stand and are open to the public every June and December.

This year, guests can visit The Pack House, Jairus Collins House, the Curtis Bishop House and Thomas house.

 The Pack house built by Buckeye Coal and Coke Company has oak columns separating the foyer and formal living room. The house overlooks the Bluestone River and is filled with antique furnishings from the turn of the century.

Don’t be surprised, but the Jairus Collins house is painted purple! It is three stories with a rose patterned stained glass window in the foyer and the east side of the stairwell. The formal dining room features a crystal chandelier. You don’t want to miss the sunroom on the third floor! This house was built by Mr. Collins, who was a coal operator in the Pocahontas mine. He built his mansion for his family.

Curtis Bishop’s house is also filled with priceless antiques. The yellow house on Main Street also features a garden. This house was also built by Mr. Collins.

Wow, the Thomas House sits on 17 acres, overlooking the town of Bramwell. It was built by W. H. Thomas in 1909-1912. This was the most expensive home in the town. It cost $95,000. That was a lot of money back then!  The house features a ballroom on the third floor. Care to dance anyone?

Tickets for the event can be purchased on June 4 at 1 p.m. at the Bramwell Presbyterian Church in the middle of town.   The tour is from 2 p.m.-5 p.m. After the tour, grab dinner at The Corner Shop.

*Houses are subject to change.