35 - 37 North Plum Street
The 1970s decade was a golden age of historic-house restoration in Lancaster. "You just walk around town and feel the revitalization fever," a local contractor explained. "This restoration thing in snowballing like nothing else before." (New Era Nov. 1, 1977.)
There were many players in this restoration field. Contractor Abe Binkley was transforming homes on Church Street. Architect John deVitry partnered with brothers Calvin and Dale High and others to create Old Town Lancaster. Restoration developers Bill and Nancy Puffer restored old houses for private buyers.
Ed Drogaris was restoring and reselling older houses. And many more homeowners were restoring buildings. These investors were following in the footsteps of historic-house buffs who began rehabbing houses on Howard Avenue in the 1960s.
R. Dexter Frey Jr. and Matthew Mannix were movers and shakers during this restoration heyday. These business partners specialized in residential restoration. They restored and renovated these two homes on Plum Street, in addition to other city properties.
Other players in this field during that time include Gene Shaw working on Church Street and Jere Shertzer doing projects on Chestnut Street. Lancaster's revitalization movement continues today.