Tucked into the back of South Mountain in Reinholds, PA, sits a 173-year old retreat known as Hendel Manor in Lancaster County.

The 8.3-acre property with a two-story timber cabin was listed at the end of July for $225,000 and is pending sale.

The extra-rustic, two-bedroom cabin (we’re talking outhouse in lieu of indoor plumbing) was originally a one-story log home that was part of a larger farm owned by the Leininger family.

Storied past

“The plot was used as a celery farm,” says listing agent Chris Miller. “Supposedly, a previous owner had mentioned the log home had been used as part of the underground railroad.”

Joseph Hendel, of the Hendel Hat Factory in Reading, PA, purchased the home in 1927 from the Leiningers and hired an architect to add the second level and kitchen, as well as a decorative gazebo over the well.

“He used a half-timbered design known as ‘fachwerk,’ which features a framework of wood with infill of stone, brick, and stucco,” Miller explains.

Rustic residence

The home has only ever been used as a summer house, primarily for picnics and family gatherings—hence its rustic heating and plumbing systems.

“As a summer residence, the property never had a need for a central heating system, although it does have a wood-burning fireplace,” says Miller. “It also never had any indoor plumbing for a bathroom.”

The lack of amenities did not seem to dampen a buyer’s enthusiasm, as the home already has an offer.

The next owners will inherit the country lifestyle that comes with the home, including its “little red barn”—aka the outhouse.

The sellers held their last picnic at the property this past July, when they invited friends and family to come say a final farewell to the beloved cabin and its wooded surroundings.

“Now it’s time for the next owner to come and make their own memories,” Miller says.

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