Built in the 1850s, the home was purchased in 1869 by Belle Craig, daughter of an early founder of the Lehigh Coal & Navigation Company and wife of Allen Craig, who was to become a District Attorney for Carbon County, Pennsylvania State Congressman, and a lead prosecutor on the notorious “Molly Maguires” trial.
The size of the home is unusual. Could it have been designed as a boarding house or hotel? The town of Mauch Chunk was booming at the time, with migrant and immigrant miners and craftsmen needing room and board. It’s also possible that the first floor was intended as a business space, likely offices. And it’s likely that the structure was updated after any of the floods known to have effected most of Broadway, in 1862, 1901-02, 1933 and a few more times before the Mauch Chunk Creek watershed project was completed in 1972, creating the Mauch Chunk Lake.
The mansion remained in the Craig family until 1924. It has largely been preserved, but with modern upgrades to bathrooms and kitchens, and is available for short-term rental.
The Garden Level
The Garden Level comprises the entire first floor of the Mansion. It includes a sun room attached to a spacious parlor, large dining room and breakfast room, five bedrooms and two baths.
4 queen bedrooms, 1 double twin bedroom
2 baths
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Sleeps 10
(air mattresses/other accommodations for children are available)
Off-street parking for up to 5 vehicles
The Balcony Level
The second floor features a three bedrooms and two bathrooms, with a modern, eat-in kitchen and large living/dining room with a balcony overlooking West Broadway.
1 queen bedroom, 1 bedroom with 2 queen beds, 1 bedroom with 2 full beds
2 baths
~
Sleeps up to 10
Off-street parking for up to 3 vehicles
Book the House
Both apartments may be available for a large gathering.