the historic home “Locust Knolls” makes its public debut as the site of the Harrisburg Symphony Society Showhouse & Gardens 2012. With its 5,000+ square foot stone farm house, stone and frame bank barn, pond and acres of rolling lawns and mature trees, the former Osterlund farm serves as the perfect canvas for our 25 talented designers and landscapers to create exciting rooms and outdoor living spaces to impress and inspire our visitors.
The property overlooks the Yellow Breeches in Lower Allen Township, Cumberland County. Until the mid-18th Century, much of the area was a part of “Lowther Manor,” a reservation for the Shawnee Indians established by the Penn family. The tract of land upon which the house now sits was originally deeded to George Coover by the Penns in 1785. The original stone house is believed to have been built by William Cox around 1795, with a 2-story stone addition in the mid-1800s and a frame addition in the late 1900s. The house has been renovated to create a warm and welcoming home for a 21st Century family.
Enjoy the historic details of the home and stroll the grounds, taking in the pond, bank barn, trout run and vistas of the winding creek. Visit our Yellow Breeches Café for lunch or snacks and beverages, and head to the Serendipity Boutique and Greenhouse for unique gifts, jewelry, handcrafted items, plants and garden delights.