Submitted by Colleen Bowden, board member of the Historical Society of Salisbury Township. Some information provided by http://www.newspapers.com.

There was a time when those who could afford it were able to spend the warm months in the countryside in summer homes. The rolling hills of the Gap and Kinzer areas were situated near small towns, not too distant from major cities, along the train route and later the trolley route, providing a countryside respite.

On a hill in Kinzers, along Route 30, stood a home that was once renowned in Salisbury Township. It was described in old newspaper articles with words such as "oddity," "cumbersome," "massive," "gingerbread" and "a gloomy Victorian monstrosity."

Known as the Sanders Estate, the Hensel Home and the Bleak House, this home was a grand sight in the area and was noted for its height, massive overhanging eaves, glass cupola, Victorian scrollwork and ornamental designs, according to the Sunday News dated Aug. 5, 1962.

According to that same news article, Dr. Sanders, a dentist, had built the home in the 1870s. Newspaper articles from the Lancaster Daily Intelligencer from July 1881 and June 1882 announce his arrival from St. Louis, Mo. Sanders passed away in 1893 but had stopped coming to the house a few years prior. The home sat mostly empty, except for an Amish family renting the back of the house, until the Hon. W.U. Hensel purchased the home in 1893.

Hensel made some changes, expanding the porch and adding rooms. This was when the mansion became dubbed "The Bleak House," in reference to Charles Dickens' novel as was reported in the Sunday News on July 8, 1928.

In contrast to the gloomy name and brown exterior, the context of the 24-room home during Hensel's time was anything but bleak with its parties, fireworks, Japanese lanterns and white wicker furniture on the porch. Hensel hosted lively garden parties, Fourth of July parties and dances, with guests traveling to Kinzers via carriage and train. Hensel had served as Lancaster County Chairman for the Democratic Party and Attorney General for Pennsylvania, among other business ventures, opening his Bleak House doors to entertain political figures and foreign diplomats.

It was reported that even John Philip Sousa paid a visit, after his band performed at Rocky Springs Park in Lancaster. The house held treasures dated back to the Revolutionary War era that history and antique enthusiasts would long to see.

After Hensel's passing in 1915, the Bleak House was passed down to his daughter, Elizabeth Nauman. Family members occupied the home until it was sold to Lyle W. Ratliff, an antique dealer from Sadsburyville, in 1947, according to the Sunday News published March 23, 1947.

The Lancaster New Era reported that Bleak House was purchased by the Gap VFW in 1950. In 1962, the Industrial Era home/VFW was razed due to an internal fire in the barroom.

What's left of this iconic building? A stone foundation from one of the structures and irreplaceable treasures that once adorned the interior and exterior of the home that may still be there. There are also written stories where some share their perceptions of this dark mansion on the hill.