28 W. South St.

- Wilkes-Barre, PA 18701
​(On the Wilkes University campus, next to the federal courthouse)
BUILDING DETAILS:
Property Type: ​Historic Property/ Immaculate Mansion/ Downtown Professional Office Space
Space Available:​ 1,200 - 1,500 sq. ft. (3 office suites/conference room/washroom and more)
Rental Rate:​ $1,750 a month (incl. utilities and off-street parking) Cable and WiFi available
Lease Term: ​Negotiable ​Date Available:​ Immediately

DESCRIPTION:
The Historic Welles Mansion at 28 W. South St. in Wilkes-Barre is open for business and now
renting. We are proud to announce restoration work is complete on our 1st floor office space. A
few months ago, we chose to invest in, preserve and cherish one of the true gem properties of
Northeastern Pennsylvania. We have room to share with the right tenant that fits the property’s
iconic character.

This restored office space is ideal for a lawyer, accountant, real estate broker, insurance agent
or other professional. You’ll have a grand entrance, a second private side entrance, three
executive offices, a one-of-a-kind vintage foyer with large reception area, and access to a large
conference room. The 10-ft high ceilings, decorative plasterwork, vintage light fixtures,
fireplaces and original quarter-sawn oak woodwork are sure to impress. Nestled​ in the heart of
Wilkes University​ and ​next to a United States courthouse​, this prime location is among the
nicest and safest in all of Wilkes-Barre.
HIGHLIGHTS:

● Free off-street parking in private lot for 2 to 4 vehicles.

● Elevated security being situated next to the federal courthouse and amid the Wilkes
University campus. (Constant presence of U.S. Marshals, federal courthouse
surveillance cameras pointed on property, Wilkes security saturation, Wilkes ROTC
cadets in uniform always visible and frequent Wilkes-Barre police patrols)

● Brand new, award-winning landscaping by designers of world-wide significance

● Original built-in and glassed bookshelves/cabinets for amazing display possibilities

● Original, rare quarter-sawn oak floors, doors and woodwork

● Vintage pocket doors separating rooms

● Newly remodeled private washroom

● Vintage electric light fixtures and chandeliers, previously powered by gas

● On-site maintenance, as property is locally-owned, owner-occupied

AMENITIES

● Oil-powered warm forced-air heat and central air conditioning

● Large conference area with 10-seat table, chairs provided (negotiable)

● Access to outdoor green space - one of the largest and loveliest yards in all of downtown
with a world-renown perennial peony garden

● Walkability to everything the downtown’s renaissance offers, including “Restaurant Row”

● Reliable power and electrical service

● Free cable TV and WiFi internet

● Upon-request access to second-floor mezzanine/balcony and newly-remodeled “Blue

Room” lounge with view of downtown

● First priority in hosting clients in third-floor bedroom suites

HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE: 28 W. South St. and the Welles family

At the corner of West South Street and Barnum Place, this Georgian Revival mansion was
designed by the prominent Philadelphia architectural firm of Moses & King for Edward Welles
Sr. (1832-1914), a scion of one of Northeastern Pennsylvania's most prominent families.
Welles was the grandson of Matthias Hollenback, a hero of the Revolutionary War’s “Battle of
Wyoming” and the most successful businessman in Northeastern Pennsylvania history.
Hollenback once hosted a party in Wilkes-Barre for Louis Philippe, who would go on to become
king of France from 1830 to 1848. Earlier, during the French Revolution, the Welles/Hollenback
family established the French Azilum in nearby Bradford County, a retreat for refugees of
French royal family.n
Welles was an early backer of the company that became Woolworths, which pioneered the
Five and Dime discount retail concept across the United States. In 1884, Welles rented a
storefront on East Market Street in Wilkes-Barre to F.M. Kirby and Charles Woolworth, making it
just the third Woolworths store in the country before rapid expansion.
Welles served as the president of the Hollenback Coal Company, a manager of the family's
extensive interests in Bradford County, a Wilkes-Barre City councilman, and a patron of local
civic endeavors.
Offices in the home were used for Welles’s vast business empire, including local real estate
holdings in the historic neighborhood and elsewhere in the city.
Welles’ son, Edward Jr., and his wife, Virginia, were the last of the family to live here prior to
her death in Feb. 2016. They had no heirs.
Southstreet Investment Group purchased the property in March 2017 and has been restoring
it to its grandeur.
The Wilkes-Barre Preservation Society says 28 W. South St. has "one of the prettiest and
most tasteful interiors in town." It’s one of the main attractions of the annual architectural
walking tour of downtown.
(​Historical information courtesy of the Wilkes-Barre Preservation Society)
SPACE AVAILABLE​:

Available office space at 28 W. South St. includes three (3) rooms on the left side of the first
floor with a separate side entrance and use of a common entrance/lobby area leading to a
washroom underneath a grand wooden staircase. Use of a conference room with a large table
can be/will be available upon request. 2nd floor is owner occupied. Private parking lot in rear for
2 - 4 cars during day/weekdays.

BLUEPRINT​:

Red is actual
dimensions. Yellow is
office suites. Blue is
common areas -
lobby/foyer and
washroom. Purple is
conference room.
Numbers coincide
with photos to follow.
Front to back:
Back to front:
1. THE WHITE ROOM
2. THE MIDDLE ROOM
3. THE RENTAL OFFICE
4. COMMON AREA (LOBBY/FOYER)
5. CONFERENCE/BRAINSTORMING ROOM (Table included)
FRONT ENTRANCE:
SIDE ENTRANCE
PARKING LOT:

During days/weekdays there will be several spots available in private off-street parking lot in
front of 17 Barnum Place, the carriage house for the Welles property.
1898 photo:

No. 1 mansion ​photo listed on Wilkes-Barre Preservation Society Facebook page

HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE:
The Pennsylvania State Historic Preservation Office and the United States National Park
Service have certified 28 W. South St. as a historic structure eligible for preservation work:
DESCRIPTION OF PROPERTY:​ (From Pennsylvania State Historic Preservation Office)

Scroll down for more photos:

MISC. PHOTOS:
 For inquiries, please email:
WellesMansion@gmail.com