Mansion House Restaurant in Old Concord (near Prosperity), Pa
Before it was a restaurant, it was a boy's home/school

At least 2 of my Paternal Uncles were at the boys home in 1926 for about a year, and it's possible my Dad was also there. My Dad was 11 and his brothers were 6 & 4 in 1926. They were there because their Dad did wrong and then abandoned his 1st Wife & 8 of 9 remaining kids in Washington, PA in 1926 at one of the worst times in history. My Dadâ™s infant brother had died & my Dad had 8 siblings (9 kids in Washington, PA).
Never knew anything about my Dad or his family until July 2012. No one talked about my Paternal Grandpa or anything involved. Never saw a photo of my Paternal Grandpa, never knew his name or anything about him, and grew up with the false idea he had died, because that's what his Washington, PA 1st Wife and kids were told--and it's what we were all told until 1972 (over 46 years later) when the Washington, PA remaining kids and family members were informed my Paternal Grandpa was ALIVE in Tennessee with a 2nd Wife & 10 additional kids. Found out after July 2012 my Dad had been in an orphanage because of his Dad's choices, then in 2017 was informed by Cousins at least 2 of my Dad's brothers had been in this boys home with the idea it's possible my Dad was also there. Mansion House Restaurant--former boys school/home--is part of my Dad's Family History from 1926.

I'm looking for information on Old Concord, PA. I know there is a Concord Presbyterian Church in Prosperity, but is there anything else left of the community? I'm in the middle of visiting all the places named "Concord" in America, and it looks like I'll need to make a trip to Western PA. I'd love to hear from you Dana or Teresa.Thanks.
Rob from Concord MA

Old Concord, Prosperity, PA, used to have it's own Post Office, Grist Mill, store, ... the church is still there and is the most beautiful inside of any little country church I've ever seen. There are only less than a dozen houses there now. The former Mansion House restaurant is vacant now. A beautiful little village!

The location has been updated with a geolocation pin on the map, does this look correct?

Does anybody know the official name of the boys school? I believe my grandfather ran the school for several years.

I was here the staff told us it was hunted ive even had like Indian like gruesome fires and killings in my dreams plus the said sum girl hung her self in neglect of her father not being there i mean i can only remember bits and pieces cuz mind u i was age 8 to 13 when i stayed there

The school was called TLC transformation learning center or holy family in Washington county all the boys in this group homes attended one of those schools but I remember the names of each unit sum kids were on concord as bottom unit connected to the mansion house from age 5 to 15 & the farthest was prospect for kids in independent living who can cook their own meals and mansion house was for boys that were 16 and around that age to 18 and The one next to the mansion house became storage but it was a secondary unit for kids around the same age bracket as the mansion house and we all ate at the mansion house only thing this place was good for was to grown ass adults come to work
And abuse there power ive still wear scar till this day and im 24 now i got hit by a car there seen riots got my ear cut off and chased by rednecks and possibly shot and killed if we ran soooo it was basically a outta town feel free to run cause you’ll die typa vibe

Deon
What years were you there?
I’m most interested in the 1930’s and early 1940’s.

Im not sure wat year i was a kid back then age 9 im 24 now sooo wasnt to long ago

Thanks
Probably later than when my grandfather was there.

Where can i find inside pictures of the mansion house and ground pictures? Ive been searching for days.

Hello Janice,

Unfortunately, our site specializes in aerial images and we do not have any ground-level photos or interior shots. Does anyone know a place to find these types of images for this property?

Deon, If you are 24 years of age you did not stay at the boys school here in Old Concord. Your school was the old Onipuk farm that was purchased by Mel Blount. That was out near Taylorstown off Route 40. The school in this photo was out of business by the late 1940's or early 50's. It was then converted to a restuarant. I ate here once. Food was served family style.

The residential boy’s home was called Allegheny County Industrial Home for Boys. It was also known as Thorn Hill School for Boys. According to the 1930 census, the cottages are listed by cottage numbers. the cottage master was called the “Home Officer”. They lived there w their wife and children. The cottages housed “inmates” and when boys ran away, I read it was because of zealous punishment by the cottage master.
My father was housed by an ex-cottage master and his wife after they left Thorn Hill. They had a farm in Prospect, and they opened their place for boarders. He spoke of this man ‘Old Man Cooper” as very abusive.

I live in Old Concord. Yes the restaurant was a school years ago. But after the restaurant closed about 20 or so years ago it became a boys home again up to about 10 yrs ago .It sat empty for some years, The gas and oil industry tour down the entire place last week. It is empty lot now, Old Concord is basically a gas well site nowadays.

Had a foster brother who had been adopted from "the orphanage" as I always heard it called. I ate at the restaurant a time or two. The food was akin to the cooking style we all grew up on, BUT their banana nut bread was heavenly. I had the recipe and somehow lost it. Sure wish I could get my hands on that again! However, the ingredients we are working with today just wouldn't do it any justice, but still if anybody out there has it, please respond. I would like to try. TYSM