Collier House history clarified

Dear Readers,

I was very pleased to see the recent article on the Collier B & B in your 22 June issue. I was well aquainted with this family as this house was also my grandmother’s residence. From about 1930 - 1952 this was known as the Manson House. The Mansons occupied this house after the newer Collier house was built. So the Mansons occupied this house for 50 plus years before Mrs. Benge. My parents, Herman and Margaret Pankonin, built the house next door so I was in constant contact with the Emma ( Hull) Manson House.

I believe the only people living today that would have knowledge of this Manson House, other than myself, would be my sister, Shirley Pankonin Koralewski, CJ Rezak and the Dr. Colglazier children.

As for the Manson house, Robert Manson died on a trip to Canada in 1919. My mother and grandmother continued to live in the house until my mother’s marriage in 1920 when she moved next door with her new husband Herman Pankonin.

After I was born in 1930 I spent many happy hours in that house as my Grandmother Manson was like a second mother to me. When available, the front bedroom was filled with friends, teachers and long time acquaintances.

So in essence, the Manson House served as a very early B & B. It now seems to have been reborn as a modern B & B which is very gratifying to me.

Sincerely, Phyllis J. Pankonin Hughes