The dwelling appears to be plowing through the forest as a ship would plow through the ocean. Sited on the bluff of a large hill at the end of a road, the home seems to be in its own world. Much bedrock had to be blasted out even after the house was moved several feet to minimize cost.
Look carefully to the right of the balcony to see the bedroom wing jutting out. From the balcony, bits of the Susquehanna River can be seen through the leaves in the summer. In winter there is a full view of the river and the downtown part of Lock Haven and the courthouse.
The window wall at the forest end of the great room gives the effect of living in a tree house. Previously the Pedlows lived in a large Victorian house near Lock Haven State University. Marian had been an art major and was secure in her own tastes without regard to others. Thus she planned to use her period antiques even though the house would be strictly modern.
Not only did Marian bring her eighteen hundreds antiques with her, she also brought period wall lamps and even the banister for the stairs. Thus this may well be the most eclectic mid-century modern house ever built.
The previously exposed central beam was covered after a major kitchen fire caused much damage.
The house came to be after Wesley’s business associate Aubrey Nease recommended Hallock to him. The Neases were very good social friends with the Hallocks. Both excellent chemists, the husbands had formed the Pedlow Nease Chemical Company, Inc. Aubrey especially excelled in sales as well, while Wesley was adept at scaling lab results into large-scale production methods. Wesley was so good that Aubrey often pushed accepting orders before Wesley felt that he was ready to make the transformations that were needed. This led to much stress.
The men parted ways fairly amicably, with Wesley forming the Trylon Chemical Company, Inc. in Lock Haven, using one of the symbols of the 1939 New York World’s Fair. Aubrey formed the Nease Chemical Company, Inc. in State College. Both later sold out to other companies.
The cantilevered fireplace hearth is classic Hallock. The cherry wood inserts were intended to be polished copper squares. Wesley never got around to that and put in the wood.
The Pedlows both loved having plants inside. Marian requested this planter and sky lights on the south wall. Outdoor plants blend with those in the home.
The bathroom suite borders an entry courtyard. It is faced with open, patterned block chosen by Marian.
Inside, translucent, colored fiberglass provides for privacy. Shelves provide for Marian’s bottle collection. Per her son, Marian didn’t care whether the bottles were Steuben or just plastic as long as she liked the shape and color.
The Pella awning windows in the master bedroom could be folded flat to wash the outside from inside.
Both the central steel I-beam and the side wood beams in the master bedroom did not have a covering. Son George believes that Marian’s fascination with shapes led her to leave the I-beam exposed so it could be viewed.
A terrace runs the full length of the south side of the house. The kitchen is to the left and great room to the right.
When archeologists study the area in a thousand years they may puzzle as to why a bridge was located atop a mountain. The construction company which built the house specialized in highway bridges. They had a number of concrete beams left from a highway project and offered them to Wesley for the roof of the carport. The resulting roof forms a spacious sun deck. Look closely in the shadows to the right to see the stairs to the top. The carport wall forms one side of a large entry courtyard, with a covered breezeway to the left. When son George left home, Wesley converted the swimming pool into a lily pond and added flowering plants.
Look just above the top bench rail to see the Susquehanna River through the leaves. In winter, downtown Lock Haven can also be seen to the right.
Steel beams support the balcony. The house was not made for children. When grandchildren arrived, Wesley replaced end chains with lattice and added heavy wire net behind the bench.
