In honor of Ridgway’s Bicentennial, we continue our monthly series highlighting homes in Ridgway’s Historic Lily of The Valley Historic District in the words of local historian Bob Imhof.
Built in 1907 – Richardsonian Romanesque Style
William Henry Hyde was born in Ridgway, Elk County, PA on May 27, 1849 and passed away on August 12, 1899 and was the son of Joseph Smith Hyde (8-30-1813 – 6-30-1888) and Jane Gillis Hyde (11-1-1822 – 8-31-1864) daughter of Enos Gillis, one of the two original settlers to the site of Ridgway on the Clarion River. The original site of Ridgway (established on December 21, 1821) is located at the Montmorency Farm six and one-half miles from present day Ridgway on Route 948 North.
State Senator William Henry Hyde married Elizabeth “Lizzie” Kime (3-10-1850 – 4-10-1921) of McVeytown, Mifflin County, PA on September 20, 1869.
Harry R. Hyde (4-16-1872 – 1954) became resident and owner of this mansion following the passing of Mrs. Elizabeth Kime Hyde, wife of William H. Hyde his father on April 10, 1921. His original home
is directly across the street from this mansion and was built in 1896.
This site was originally the home and store (opened in1847) of Joseph Smith Hyde who arrived in Ridgway from Tamworth, New Hampshire basically penniless after a brief stay in Caledonia in 1837. When Mr. Hyde passed away in 1888 he was the richest man in Elk County, PA.
A photo taken in 1870 of the original home and store of Joseph Smith Hyde and the second home built next to the original home and the original home of Senator William Henry Hyde are included along with a photo of the modern home. The home of Mrs. Hyde was constructed by the Hyde-Murphy Company stating in 1905 and completed in 1907 has some of the finest woodwork of oak, crosscut cherry used in the beamed ceiling, curly birch in the massive great room, and maple throughout making it a testament to the quality of the craftsmanship of the Hyde-Murphy Company. Fireplaces are of inlaid Italian marble with the Hyde family crest in the great room. Mosaic tile surrounds great wooden archways tethered by fluted pilasters and heavy paneled wainscoting envelop both the public and private family rooms. The home also features Ridgway’s largest leaded and beveled window soaring above the grand staircase. A ballroom with Juliet balcony graciously finishes the third floor of the mansion. The home features large, over-sized rooms, 13 in all including 6 bedrooms, 4 ½ baths, 8 fireplaces, and a grand ballroom on the 3rd floor. The exterior is of cut stone with a magnificent arched wrap around porch.
