Nov 7, 2023

TribLIVE's Daily and Weekly email newsletters deliver the news you want and information you need, right to your inbox. A hand-written letter dated Dec. 23, 1949, by Joanne Byrd to her boyfriend at the time, Fred Rogers, is displayed on a table. She penned it when she was a senior at Rollins College on break at her home in Jacksonville, Fla. Fred had already graduated and was staying at his family’s summer home in Latrobe. It’s one piece of the history inside the house that would become a retreat for the late Fred and Joanne Rogers. Much of that legacy has been preserved at the estate, which encompasses 46 acres in Unity Township. Current owners Chris and Linda Frank call this place magical, just like the theme of Fred Rogers’ show on WQED “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood.” “Every time we come up the driveway, we take it all in,” said Linda Frank. Courtesy of Ryan Snyder / Gatti Productions The main house on the 46-acre estate in Unity Township that once belonged to Fred and Joanne Rogers. It is known as “The Evergreens.” The couple purchased the property, known as The Evergreens, on New Year’s Eve 2022. They welcomed 2023 by sleeping on a mattress on the first floor of the main home, which has six bedrooms and four full bathrooms. A log cabin and a Tudor house are also on the lush property. The Franks wanted to develop the property with large custom residences as a way to share the Rogers family compound with the community, they said. The couple, who live in Penn Township, Butler County, said they wanted to create a product that would begin to address concerns about people wanting to leave the area once they graduated. One use they thought about was as an Airbnb that could be utilized as a wedding venue. “Where better to create an environment of caring and being good neighbors than on Mr. Rogers’ family retreat?” the couple said. The Latrobe planning board voted that a zoning change be recommended, they said, which meant they had to request a conditional use for the property because it was zoned in the conservation/agriculture district. Their plans never materialized, so they’ve decided to put the place on the market for $2,950,000. “It is important to preserve the legacy of the home,” said Chris Frank. “We are saddened we can’t do what we planned to do. We wanted to share the property with the community.” Chris Frank, CEO at Horace Trumbauer, a company that designs, builds, restores and develops real estate, said there was something special about this place the minute he saw it. “This was the neighborhood of Fred and Joanne Rogers,” Chris Frank said. “As a developer you try to never fall in love with a property, but I immediately fell in love with this one. I called Linda and said, ‘you are not going to believe this, but I really love this place.’ I had never, ever said anything like this before.” The home is unique to the Latrobe region, said Kelly Cheponis, who is co-listing the home with Geoff Smathers of Howard Hanna Real Estate. “This area is so rich in history,” Cheponis said. “This home has babbling brooks and springs and it is peaceful. It is a really gorgeous piece of property in the Laurel Highlands. You feel Joanne and Fred Rogers’ presence. It is as if he will walk in, sit down and change into his red cardigan sweater and put on a pair of Sperry-brand blue sneakers (like he did in the children’s show ‘Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood).’” Bridge The property has been maintained even when people haven’t been living there. As you enter there are lines of trees that lead to the main home and thee sound of running water can heard from a nearby stream. The main two-story home has large front and back screened in porches that can be used most of the year. Walking into the kitchen feels like stepping back in time and reminds Cheponis of her grandmother’s house. “It is vintage, and it has been so well taken care of,” she said. The couple has updated part of the property with new windows, some furniture and flooring while maintaining most of its original look. They envision other renovations that could be made. There are two fireplaces with engravings of “Rest You All That Linger Here” and “East, West, Hames, Best” which means wherever you travel, home is the best place to be. At one time there were two baby grand pianos in the living room and the couple would play music facing each other, Linda Frank said. Courtesy of Ryan Snyder / Gatti Productions A regulation size pool that is 50 yards long and 25 yards wide is believed to be where Fred Rogers learned to swim. The kitchen leads to the backyard with a fireplace. A regulation size pool that is 50 yards long and 25 yards wide is believed to be where Fred Rogers learned to swim. Over a small bridge and a short walk away, is the Tudor Home, which was utilized for holidays. It has an expansive living room, dining room and game room all open to where tables could be placed to accommodate a large gathering of people, in addition to five bedrooms, two bathrooms and a large kitchen. In the back of the property is a log cabin that is believed to be one of the first homes in the area, the couple said. It was moved from a previous location in Downtown Latrobe — Fred and Joanne Rogers put on an addition to the log cabin. Courtesy of Ryan Snyder / Gatti Productions This log cabin was moved from Downtown Latrobe to the 46-acre estate in Unity Township. “When you are at this home it gives you the feeling that you can be yourself, which is what Mister Rogers conveyed,” Cheponis said. “It was a place of peace and quiet. The home is unassuming. It’s not too fancy. They’ve preserved a lot of the charm of the home.” “We are not sure what we want to do,” Chris Frank said. “We want to sell, but deep down in my heart we want to stay.” The address is 326 Old Orchard Lane, Unity Township. A virtual tour produced by Ryan Snyder of Gatti Productions can be viewed on YouTube. JoAnne Klimovich Harrop is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact JoAnne by email at jharrop@triblive.com or via Twitter . Categories:Top Stories | Westmoreland