Vandalism, Sledding Cause Damage To Levittown’s Historic Bolton Mansion

Vandalism and sledding activity after the late January snowfall have left the historic Bolton Mansion mounting repair costs and a plea for help from neighbors.

Volunteers for the 17th-century landmark reported on social media and in a GoFundMe that the newly repaired steps were damaged after people broke through security chains to use the stone treads as a sled run.

The damage comes just after the mansion completed a restoration of the steps and railings, which were designed to replicate a 1930s-era photograph of the hilltop residence.

According to a fundraiser organized by the mansion, a house manager arriving to clean the site encountered a group of older teens and young adults throwing chunks of ice at the building.

The incident led to damaged shutters and ice smashed across the porch.

“Unfortunately, this is not the first time the steps have required repairs due to sledding,” the organization stated, noting that the chains were installed to prevent damage at the popular sledding spot.

The mansion’s house manager also discovered a garbage can with its bottom broken out and trash scattered across the grounds.

In previous years, volunteers noted that the amount of discarded trash and broken sleds left by trespassers has been enough to fill a pickup truck bed in a single weekend.

The full cost of the damage to the treads likely will not be determined until spring, the mansion’s caretakers said.

The nonprofit organization, which is entirely volunteer-run and funded through private donations, has launched a GoFundMe campaign that has raised nearly $550 as of Tuesday morning.

Funds that are raised will be directed toward restoring the damaged steps and shutters, ongoing maintenance and electrical work, and purchasing additional security cameras and signage.

Organizers reminded the public that while the mansion is a local landmark and that it is not public property.

Situated on Holly Drive in Bristol Township’s Levittown section, Bolton Mansion dates back to the late 1600s. The property was a farmstead for the Pemberton family, whose descendant, John Stith Pemberton, created Coca-Cola.

The structure is considered one of the most historically significant buildings in Pennsylvania due to its age and construction.

Over the centuries, the mansion has served as housing for U.S. Steel executives, offices for developer William Levitt, and the headquarters for the Bristol Township Police Department until the late 1960s.

Historic Bolton Mansion is currently seeking volunteers to assist with repairs, gardening, events, and grant writing to help maintain the site.