Add the Frank H. Buhl Mansion to your Cat’s Meow Village. Inscription on the back: Buhl Mansion Guesthouse & Spa, Sharon, Pennsylvania, This mansion was Frank H. Buhl’s wedding present to his bride, Julia Forker Buhl in 1896. A hundred years later, Jim and Donna Winner restored the castle and operate it as a luxury bed and breakfast and world-class spa. It is signed by the founder and artist of The Cat’s Meow Village, Faline Jones.

Background about the Frank H. Buhl Mansion:

Built in 1891-96, the Richardsonian Romanesque residence of Frank H. Buhl was built as a wedding gift for his wife, Julia Forker Buhl. Married February 8, 1888, the mansion cost $60,000.00 to build by 150 Italian stonemasons. Buhl founded Sharon Steel amongst other companies related to iron and steel production, coke and coal mining, railroads, irrigation projects, and more. While the couple had no children, the Shenango Valley community became their children. Mrs. Buhl was often called the “fairy godmother” of the Valley for her benevolence and gift giving to local charities and underprivileged families, especially children.

In 1936, the property was inherited by Julia F. Buhl’s nephew, Henry Forker, who lived in with his family for two decades before turning it into three apartments, with the largest apartment in the rear continuing to be the home of the Forker family. Through the 1950s and into the 1980s, the property changed hands rapidly from a beauty school and salon, high-end French restaurant, apartments for Penn State University, and an art gallery. It was purchased in 1996 after being vacant for nearly a decade and, after a $3.5 million restoration and renovation, it reopened New Year’s Eve 1997 as a luxury hotel, spa and event venue. It celebrated its 25th anniversary recently.

About The Cat’s Meow Village:

Since it’s founding in Wooster, Ohio in 1982, The Cat’s Meow Village has been crafting iconic buildings in wood for decades, each with its signature style and of course, Casper, the black cat in each scene. The Cat’s Meow Village designs and prints the front of a 3/4" thick wood with colorful details, and the back includes written facts or a story about the featured image.