Norristown To Restore Historic Selma Mansion

NORRISTOWN, PA — Norristown has awarded a contract to restore the historic Selma Mansion, they announced at a recent Municipal Council workshop meeting.

The historic mansion, located at 1301 West Airy Street, was built in the early 1800s by General Andrew Porter, an officer in the Revolutionary War, according to the municipality.

“Restoring this great historic building shows our respect for those that came before us, while preparing it up for the future of our community, we still want to maintain its heritage," Municipal President Sonya Sanders said in a statement.

Repairs will total $20,000 and will include improving the exterior stucco, restoring the stone, and modifying the gutters, officials said.

Porter's sons also stayed in the mansion, including David Rittenhouse Porter, Governor of Pennsylvania from 1839 to 1845; George Bryan Porter, who served as Governor of the Michigan Territory; and his youngest son, James Madison Porter, who was Secretary of War for President Tyler and was a founder of Lafayette College in Easton.

Porter's great-grandaughter was Mary Todd Lincoln, the First Lady and wife of President Abraham Lincoln.

The mansion frequently offers "haunted" tours of the mansion that "investigate its paranormal properties" throughout the year.

Image courtesy Russello57 via Commons