J. FREDERICK THOMPSON MANSIONConstructed in 1866 by John Shipe, the “J. Frederick Thompson Mansion” served as the private residence of Frederick Thompson. Frederick owned another property in the city, where he operated his drugstore. Located in a 4 story office building on the NW corner of Bank and Northampton streets… the present day location of Three OAK Steakhouse.
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In 1916 the Thompson Mansion was purchased by Grace Bixler, the step daughter of silk mill magnate Herman Simon.
It was during her tenure that the once private residence was transformed into an apartment building and became known as “The Townley.” It is believed that “Townley” was a family surname.
In the 1920’s the building was purchased by Dr. Carl Gaines. He used the ground floor for his medical practice for nearly half a century, until 1975.
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The property fell on hard times for the next two decades, until 1995 when it was purchased by a recent Lafayette graduate. The apartments were renovated, leaving historical details intact, though in 2003 the owner was forced to sell due to mortgage foreclosure.
Once sold, it continued to be used as an apartment building until 2012. From this point the building remained vacant. The numerous citations and code violations were left unaddressed and the property continued to fall into disrepair, coming ever so close to being added to the city’s list of blighted properties. |
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In 2018 the property, overgrown, dilapidated and lying in near ruin, was purchased by our team with the intention of giving it a new life.
The Townley; stoic, refined, and still standing strong despite years of neglect, deserved to have her history honored. We have spent nearly every day of the last two and half years being into this.
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