The Governor Wolf Historical Society property is undergoing some renovations as its members continue to invite local residents onto its campus by hosting house tours, antique shows, tavern nights and more.

The society, honoring George Wolf, former governor and pioneer of the Pennsylvania public school system, owns property situated off Jacksonville Road and Route 512 in East Allen Township.

At one time, this was the site of Pennsylvania’s most prestigious young men’s school, Allen Township Academy, later renamed Wolf Academy following the attendance of Gov. Wolf himself. Wolf later taught at the school.

The site also contains the Ralston-Mc- Keen House, which hosts a calendar of events to this day.

One of these regularly occurring events, the 10th annual antiques show, was held March 3 and 4.

This late-18th-century limestone building is reminiscent of Colonial Williamsburg.

In 1981, Governor Wolf Historical Society purchased the Ralston-McKeen House for a mere $10,000. According to society president Kathy Wilhem, the future called for renovations to commence.

“Old houses are like puzzles - you have to know what you’re looking for when renovating them,” she said. “That involves peeling back many layers of the past.”

The goal of the renovation work is to restore the home to its original form, or at least how it was before Thomas McKeen’s addition. Around the late 19th century, a second floor was added above the left kitchen wing of the building, taking away from the structure’s original historical context.

Most of the society’s funds have been going toward phase one of the restoration: restoring the original stone walls, lowering and replacing the roof, restoring the chair rails and installing a fireplace with a mantel, where the original once was. Cedar shakes have been installed on the new lowered roof.

With the focus presently on this area of the building, there was no estimate as to when renovations would be completed.

Phase two will consist of interior finishes, including mill work, floors, a staircase, restoring entrance doors and trim, plastering walls, plaster repairs to existing walls, painting, finishing the fireplace, exterior painting and miscellaneous work to complete this wing.

“We raise money for maintenance, as well as the restoration, through these events, which involve volunteers,” Wilhelm said. “We’ve been given grants, but it’s mostly donation based as phase two of our funds is coming to an end. I always encourage anyone interested in helping to become members of the (GWH) society, attend our events or donate through our website, govwolf.org.”

According to Wilhelm, another room up the stairs needed further renovation.

Dennis Young, a partner of Stephen C. Burkhardt Antiques of York County who attended the March antiques show, spoke of the needed improvements.

“These chair rails, as you can see, have gone through a few coatings of paint, but the GWHS is restoring it to its original yellow color,” Young said.

Regarding the doors and doorways, Young added, “Grain painting was popular on basic pine trim to replicate mahogany, an exotic wood at the time. Skilled hands would use various tools to achieve the look using oils and pigments on the readily available, and less expensive, pine.”

Young is grateful for the society’s efforts in restoration, given the fact that, not so long ago, the house was littered with graffiti. He has hopes that younger generations will follow in the footsteps of the GWHS and uphold restorations for generations to come.

The general public can lend support to the renovation project by becoming members and donating, whether personally or through attending fundraisers. Events in the past have included a haunted house, a favorite pastime of the locals that, unfortunately, ceased due to the wear it caused on the building itself.

The society also has held a Christmas hour tour every December for almost four decades. It always features historic homes decorated for the holiday and is held on the first Saturday in December.

Current events include tavern nights held every second Friday of the month from September through April. Here, guests can enjoy live music, colonial craftsmen and spirit tastings, with the freedom to BYOB, or “cooler,” as Wilhelm put it.

The final tavern night of the season will occur April 13 for a $10 requested donation. Proceeds go toward future restoration of this historical landmark.

Hours are 7-10 p.m. Doors open 6:30 p.m. for tables. Pawnshop Bound, featuring Rick Young, will perform. There will be tastings by Sleepy Cat Winery.

For more information, visit govwolf.org.