In January 2021, GoReadingBerks used its Facebook platform to challenge developers and community leaders to save one of Reading’s most recognizable landmarks—the 1869 Trexler Mansion, better known to many as the former Elks Lodge at 5th and Franklin Streets.

Today, more than five years after that original challenge, the project continues to bear fruit.

The response came quickly. Alan Shuman of the Shuman Development Group commented that he had been trying for years to purchase the property, but the nonprofit organization that owned it refused to sell. Determined to see the building preserved, GoReadingBerks tracked down the owner and publicly challenged the organization to allow the property to be sold to someone willing to restore it. The discussion generated widespread public attention and helped put renewed pressure on the property’s future. Just a few months later, in May 2021, the nonprofit agreed to sell the mansion to Shuman, allowing the long-awaited restoration to begin.

Today, more than five years after that original challenge, the project continues to bear fruit.

The continuing restoration of the historic Trexler Mansion has reached another important stage, with construction progressing on the building’s rooftop conservatory while plans for a new rear addition have also moved forward.

The mansion, constructed in 1869, later became the home of Reading Elks Lodge No. 115. During the early twentieth century it was expanded to include elegant dining rooms, meeting halls, bowling alleys and a rooftop garden that could accommodate hundreds of guests. After the Elks relocated in 1979, the once-grand landmark sat largely vacant and steadily deteriorated for decades.

As restoration enters its later phases, crews are reconstructing the rooftop conservatory using the building’s original architectural plans as a guide. The conservatory was one of the building’s most distinctive features, and its return represents a major milestone in restoring the mansion’s historic appearance. The work is part of a comprehensive rehabilitation that includes masonry restoration, brownstone repairs, roof replacement, window restoration, structural improvements and preservation of the building’s ornate interior woodwork and architectural details.

The project has involved significant and sometimes unexpected challenges. After restoration work began, major structural deficiencies were discovered in the roof, requiring additional repairs and funding. Alan Shuman has said that, even after addressing the roof, approximately $8 million in additional work remains to complete the restoration.

To help move the project forward, Pennsylvania awarded a $1.45 million Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP) grant in 2022 to support rehabilitation of the mansion, including masonry repairs, window restoration and reconstruction of the rooftop terrace. In 2024, the Commonwealth announced an additional $500,000 Keystone Communities Program grant for roof and roof-structure repairs, masonry work and window restoration. The City of Reading and Berks County also each committed $300,000 to help address the unexpected roof structural deficiencies.

Another major milestone came recently when Reading City Council heard an appeal concerning a proposed one-story addition at the rear of the mansion. The addition will enclose an existing porch featuring stained-glass windows, creating functional space while remaining compatible with the historic structure. The proposal had initially been denied during the historic review process, prompting developer Alan Shuman and the ownership group to appeal the decision.

Following a public hearing, Reading City Council approved the appeal, allowing the addition to proceed. Council members noted that the design would enclose the existing rear porch facing Wood Street while using materials intended to complement the historic architecture of the Trexler Mansion.

The purchase of the property was announced in May 2021, and before restoration work began, the public was given a rare opportunity to walk through the mansion. Visitors were able to admire its grand staircase, ornate woodwork, impressive meeting halls and many architectural details that had remained hidden from public view for decades.

The Trexler Mansion restoration remains a work in progress, but its transformation is becoming increasingly visible. The reconstruction of the rooftop conservatory, approval of the rear addition and ongoing preservation of the building’s historic features are bringing one of Reading’s most treasured landmarks closer to a new chapter.

For GoReadingBerks, the project stands as a reminder of what community engagement can accomplish. What began as a Facebook challenge helped renew public interest in a neglected historic landmark, encouraged action after years of stalled negotiations and helped open the door for one of downtown Reading’s most significant historic restoration projects. The Trexler Mansion is not fully restored yet, but after decades of vacancy and decline, it is steadily returning to life.

With the rooftop conservatory nearing completion and City Council approving the rear addition, the Trexler Mansion is closer than ever to reclaiming its place as one of Reading’s architectural and community landmarks.