Noah and Hannah Snyder have a one-day dream to own all the tower homes in Mechanicsburg’s Tower Hill neighborhood—preserving history and the charm of a bygone era. But for now, they’ll happily settle for two.
They reside in one of the tower homes, and this past July, when the house next door went up for sale, they purchased it with a clear vision in mind—to share its storied existence with others as a short-term stay destination, Market Street Manor.
“There are so many people who are passionate about preserving the history of this town, and I think they’re excited to see that there are some younger people who care and want to be part of it as well,” Noah said. “The future is important, but a lot of things about the past are important too. They make up what the town is.”
This 3,000-square-foot, four-bedroom, 2½ -bathroom home was the first tower home built in Mechanicsburg in 1890. It began as a midwifery where many locals at the time were born. In the early 1900s, it became a jelly factory until sugar rationing in World War II limited its operations. Then, it was owned by the family of the late Floyd L. and Jean (Jones) Hartung from the 1950s until its most recent sale last year.
In its foyer, news clippings and time-worn photos climb the wall—a thoughtfully curated gallery that preserves the layers of life that were lived in this place.
“I grew up in Victorian homes. My grandma owned the Victorian home next to Rakestraw’s ice cream, so I have a huge heart for them,” Hannah said. “It bothers me when people buy Victorians and try to modernize them. It’s been important to us that things stay as period correct as they can be here so that the history can live on.”
Tastefully eclectic wallpaper and bold colors adorn many of the manor’s walls, drawing the eye from room to room. One room, named after Hannah’s late grandma, Carol, features an heirloom rug and stained-glass window from her home. A statement piece, a mahogany and mother of pearl inlay pool table, claims attention in another. Up the winding stairs, you can find a vintage clawfoot tub, and tucked in the tower, a cozy reading nook.
“Hannah spent hours building out rooms before we even had furniture,” Noah said. “This has been a huge passion project for us.”
The duo did all the renovating and decorating themselves—spending the slices of spare time they had when not running their other Mechanicsburg-based business, Ark Fitness, antiquing for the perfect pieces and bringing newfound life to the space. Their meticulous work in weaving Market Street Manor into the building’s story has drawn in both curious locals and delighted guests.
“When we bought this place and shared our plans for it, so many people were like, ‘Who is going to want to stay in Mechanicsburg?’ But since we welcomed our first guests in October, we’ve been super excited and grateful to have our books fill up with stays as quickly as they have,” Hannah said.
For one group of guests, Market Street Manor was a resting place following long days hiking the Appalachian Trail. For another, it served as a waypoint on their cross-country road trip. Others plan to stay when they’re visiting family or friends for upcoming special occasions. Many, however, have landed a night or two at the old Victorian simply to enjoy the historic charm of this place where memories linger and new ones have room to grow.
“They’re the future of Mechanicsburg,” said Carol Palinkas, vice president of the Mechanicsburg Museum Association. “It takes visionary people to keep history alive while still embracing progress, and that’s exactly what Hannah and Noah are doing. I’m certain there’s much more ahead for them—maybe more tower homes, maybe something entirely new. Whatever it is, I can’t wait to see what they do next.”
Market Street Manor is located at 401 S. Market St., Mechanicsburg. For more information, visit www.marketstreetmanor.com.
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