EMMAUS, Pa. - The Knauss Homestead wants to use a piece of its legacy to help others make history of their own.
- The Knauss Homestead Preservation Society is set to open the homestead's barn for events in the coming months
- The potential wedding venue was presented to Emmaus Zoning Hearing Board on Thursday
- Work is ongoing to restore the space
The Knauss Homestead Preservation Society on Thursday got approval from Emmaus Zoning Hearing Board for temporary use of its historic barn for weddings and events.
According to the project's website, the preservation society's goal is for the Pennsylvania Bank Barn to serve as "a community gathering place, perfect for family events, corporate functions, or anything you can think of that will contribute to the future of Emmaus."
An architect for the project said at the meeting that use of the venue now is planned for warmer months, and would be limited to 100 people for an event.
The homestead's property currently is zoned Conservation-Residential, meaning only low-intensity development is allowed, accounting for environmental preservation and/or inadequate road access.
According to the Knauss Homestead Preservation Society’s website, the Knauss homestead was occupied by the Knauss family from its construction in 1777 until 1935, then was continually occupied until 1970 until it was left vacant for 37 years.
Their hope is to make the barn "a community gathering place, perfect for family events, corporate functions, or anything you can think of that will contribute to the future of Emmaus."The Knauss Homestead Preservation Society
It was constructed by Heinrich Knauss, son of Sebastian Knauss, one of the founders of the village that later became Emmaus. The building and land currently are owned by the borough.
The preservation society was formed in 1992 and has since worked to restore the site as a part of local Emmaus history. The preservation society says the barn is not original to the homestead. The group says it believes the original barn was destroyed by fire in the 1850s and rebuilt shortly after that on the original foundation.
Phases I and II of the restoration, which was completed throughout 2022, removed the barn's asbestos shingles, cleaned out the indoors of the barn and constructed an outdoor stone tile patio terrace.
The next plans, discussed in the zoning hearing meeting and on the preservation society's website, include adding an addition with accessible bathrooms and a small commercial kitchen, and upgrading electrical service in the barn.
According to the website, it also will have an "incredible new bluestone terrace" behind it.
A representative for the Knauss Homestead Preservation Society said restoration of the barn space is hoped to be completed by late spring and early summer, and that more information on the anticipated space may be available in the coming month.
