The Inn

History of the Inn

The Mansion District Inn’s Victorian architecture is of the High Queen Anne style. It was once the home of Rev. John Heber McCandless, who served as the Rector of nearby St. Luke’s Episcopal Church.

In October of 1885, Rev. McCandless married Emma Marian Hamlin, the daughter of local merchant and banker Henry Hamlin. Their magnificent home on West Main Street, completed in 1891, was a wedding gift from Henry.

High quality cherry and golden oak were integral features of the new home. Unusual Scottish themed details were carved in hemlock to enhance the exterior of the home. A gargoyle on the west side looks out toward the west above the triple stair step windows. Heating and lighting were supplied by natural gas, a commodity readily available in Smethport prior to the turn of the 20th century.

Following the construction of the O.J. Hamlin Mansion next door, the architect was called back to expand the McCandless home to keep up with the larger brick structure of Henry Hamlin’s son Orlo. The east end and south end of the home were extended, with the fanciest rooms yet. Only the finest of craftsmanship was suitable for the homes of Henry Hamlin’s children!

Today, the McCandless Mansion is a popular Bed & Breakfast that offers travelers all the conveniences they have come to expect in upscale accommodations, while preserving the elegance of an age steeped in local history.

Proprietor Holly McCrary excel at providing guests with a total immersion experience of the opulent lifestyles once enjoyed by timber tycoons, oil and gas barons, financiers, and entrepreneurs of a bygone era.