Wilder House

 

A Brief History of this Historical Home

David Wilder built this large brick house in 1809. He had come from New Hampshire to Bethany in 1803 and married Sophie Tyler of Damascus. They farmed 85 acres and in 1811 opened a licensed house and inn. The original license read, "License to a Retailer of Merchandise, including wine and spirits, in the County of Wayne." It is marked No. 1 and is dated December 31, 1815, according to an Act of Congress passed August 1813.

Exterior bricks for the house were said to have come from England and by ox cart from Newberg, New York. Charity Wilder, daughter of David and Sophie, married the Honorable James Manning of Bethany. They passed the property to their daughter Alice Manning Paynter and her husband Lee who were the parents of Ernest Paynter, mayor of Bethany, and his wife Elma Foster Paynter, the fourth generation of the same family who owned this historic Georgian house.

In early 2010, the property became part of the Bethany Presbyterian Church, in order to expand its ministry into the house as a location for the pastor's study, secretary's office and for meals, meetings and classroom space.

Wilder House is Available for your Event!

The building is available to hold any kind of get-togethers or community functions.

Weddings, showers, baby showers, wedding receptions, funeral dinners, graduation parties just to name a few were held there. Space is available to accommodate up to 50 guests.

If you need to hold a gathering or community event or know of someone who will be, check the calendar for availability. Then please contact Linda Zimmer at 570-470-0881. She will be happy to assist you.

Weather permitting the lawns are available for outside activities, and tents may be rented for your event.

 

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