The Jim Thorpe Lions Club, in a letter sent to borough council last week, announced its decision to terminate a caretaker agreement for the historic Asa Packer Mansion, which it had overseen for the last 70 years.

In its letter, the Lions Club cited “unnecessary obstacles” and a shift in focus toward “political bouts” as reasons for the withdrawal.

“We are willing to maintain operations for 90 days as outlined in our agreement, with our last day of operations being July 2, 2024,” the letter states. “We are fortunate and grateful to have been trusted with the opportunity to operate as Caretakers.

“Unfortunately, what once was a project for our local nnonprofitroup has become a political bout that we are not interested in participating in any longer. We joined the Lions Club to make our community a better place, to create strong civic bonds. Over the last year and a half we have faced many unnecessary obstacles while keeping the mansion a place that gives back to this community.”

The three-story, 18-room, 11,000-square-foot Italianate Villa style mansion was built in 1861 and home to Packer, a prominent philanthropist, politician, and founder of the Lehigh Valley Railroad and Lehigh University. His daughter, Mary Packer Cummings, willed the home to Jim Thorpe borough in 1912. In 1954, the borough struck an agreement with the organization now known as the Jim Thorpe Lions Club, who became caretakers of the property and opened it to the public for tours.

Council President Greg Strubinger thanked the Lions for all of the years they served as mansion caretakers.

“Mary Packer Cummings left the property to the borough and it sat dormant for over 40 years and in her will, she desired that the mansion and the grounds be open to the public,” he said. “So obviously the borough for whatever the reasons were unable to do that for over 40 years and the men and the women of the Lions Club in 1955 stepped up and did what Mary wanted in the will. They are to be commended for that.”

After a period of uncertainty over mansion oversight last year, council voted 5-1 in May to allow the Lions Club to remain as sole caretakers and administrators through at least the end of 2023.

The day after the council vote last May, then Mansion Curator and Executive Director Ava Bretzik and most of the mansion staff submitted their resignations.

At the time, Strubinger, who cast the lone no vote, put forth a recommendation that council move forward with a new organization and board made up of three council members, a mansion director, and three at-large members, to oversee the mansion. On Tuesday, he again reiterated that as an option for the borough moving forward.

“If the Lions wanted to be involved, they still could be if council decides to go forward with this new format,” Strubinger said. “If someone really has a passion for the mansion, they would certainly have that opportunity. “That’s what we’re hoping could happen, that the old staff and the new Lions that were coming on, we could kind of all come together. That was my vision for it.”

The Lions Club held a “residents night” in late 2023, allowing any Jim Thorpe resident to tour the mansion free of charge. Just over 130 people attended the event, which featured a local choir director playing the recently tuned 1905 Steinway Piano.

In December, the Lions received a two-year extension on its caretaking and administrative duties at the mansion.

“Financially, this is the best year ever reported, with over 15,000 guests visiting the mansion,” Asa Packer Mansion chairman Jay McElmoyle told council at the time.

McElmoyle also outlined plans for the upcoming years, including the possibility of establishing a custom gift shop to increase revenue. He also emphasized the Lions Club’s commitment to keeping admission prices affordable to make the mansion accessible to all.

In its letter to council last week, the Lions Club thanked “the people of Jim Thorpe who allowed us to serve as caretakers of this National Historic Landmark for 70 years and to those members of Jim Thorpe Borough Council who recognized and appreciated our hard work and dedication. The Lions motto “We Serve” has guided our mission in restoring and upholding the history and architecture of this gem in our community.”

Strubinger said a future mansion board could include living Packer family members.

“Some Packer family members have expressed a desire to serve on a board and also to help the borough establish an endowment for the future so within 10-15 years or so we could have a nice sum of money in an endowment,” Strubinger said. “There is money out there.”

James Logue Jr. contributed to this report.