The Crooked House: Public art, public history, public house in Milesburg

At an auction in Milesburg, Benjamin Fehl bought a house dating back to the 1850s with the intention of restoring the home. When he realized the sagging and tilting house was irreparable, he stopped construction but did not give up. 

Something about this ordinary home kept pulling Fehl back to Milesburg. His background in architecture and fine arts gave him a unique perspective. Sometimes preservation is about finding value in something overlooked or written off. Fehl decided to use what he knows best to save the home: art. In his words, “Art records things … and I believe art will bring strength to a community.” 

So by transforming the home into a life-size sculpture, he will not only preserve at least the idea of this home, but also a piece of Milesburg’s history.

At first, Fehl didn’t consider the project about historic preservation, but about preserving the space. Unfortunately, small towns lose spaces like this home too often. Fehl has a passion for small towns like Milesburg.

“There can be a slow loss of small-town character” that can be subtle, he reflected, one place at a time. Preservation is not easy or cheap, so it can slowly diminish if nobody is paying attention. Fehl said he planned to “make a monument of [The Crooked House], so it doesn’t go away for a while.” 

It is interesting that Fehl found this home after moving back to Centre County from Philadelphia. Colonel Samuel Miles, the founder of Milesburg, had hailed from Philadelphia, too. After serving as a senior officer under George Washington in the Revolutionary War, he eventually became mayor of Philadelphia. In 1792, Miles established Centre Furnace and had already sent his brothers and sons to acquire significant amounts of land in what would become Centre County; from Brush Valley, now Miles Township, to Milesburg (then called Milesborough) by 1793. Among Samuel’s family that came to the area was his niece, Abigail. The home that Fehl purchased, The Crooked House, was the home of Abigail Miles.

Yet it’s not the historic connection to Samuel Miles that initially inspired Fehl as much as what the ordinary home itself represents. It belonged to lots of homeowners over the years, and when finished, it will belong to all as a public space. Fehl asked rhetorically, “Why do we put public art in places in the first place?” Public art facilitates placemaking, improving communities by strengthening the connections between people and places. Art like this is one piece of many that can add to the character, value, and experiences of a town. The Crooked House is also a park, and Fehl believes “it’s something locals can be proud of.”

So what is The Crooked House? 

When the project is complete, the concrete sculpture will not have a functional door, nor windows, nor a roof; it will not even be a house at all. Think of it, Fehl said, “like a mural on a wall.” However, what it will be is a monument to the ideas and connections we as humans have with “the home” – not a specific home, but the very concept of home itself. The fireplace that he restored after discovering it buried beneath eras of plaster will be the hearth of that home. Yet when you think about it, when it’s finished, any local or visitor can experience “home” at The Crooked House, a kind of public house. 

The Crooked House at Homecoming Park will offer a quaint greenspace while capturing the footprint of the original home, its fireplace, and an innovative concrete casting of the front facade of a humble house – Abigail’s house, your house.

       For years, Fehl has dedicated his passion, time, and resources to The Crooked House. The Centre County Historical Society has recognized his efforts with an award. According to Mary Sorensen, executive director of the CCHS, “Benjamin is receiving the History and Heritage Award designated for excellence in keeping the cultural and natural heritage of Centre County viable, establishing a greater knowledge of the county’s past, strengthening local pride. This award is for preserving history in Milesburg through his advocacy and efforts with The Crooked House and the Milesburg historical community.” 

The Crooked House project has been made possible through donations and grants. In addition to Fehl’s contributions, each dollar raised is utilized to move forward one piece at a time. To make a contribution or learn more about The Crooked House at Homecoming Park, visit thecrookedhouse.net.

Sources:

Fehl, Benjamin. “The Crooked House.” thecrookedhouse.net. December 12, 2021. http://www.thecrookedhouse.net/

“History.” Milesburg Museum & Historical Society. December 12, 2021. https://www.milesburg.org/history

O’Toole, Katie. “Dead Centre Podcasts: Episode 4 – The Crooked House.” Last modified June 21, 2017. https://centrehistory.org/research-explore/podcasts/

Local Historia is a passion for local history, community, and preservation. Its mission is to connect you with local history through engaging content and walking tours. Local Historia is owned by public historians Matt Maris and Dustin Elder, who co-author this column. For more, visit localhistoria.com.