The McNeal Mansion: An Abandoned 10,000-Square-Foot 1800s Home Nature Is Reclaiming

It was a symbol of opulence and grandeur, standing as a testament to its owner’s wealth and influence. However, it has since been reclaimed by nature and continues to deteriorate with each passing year as new owners fail in their attempts to renovate the property.

However, McNeal was the only person who used the mansion as their home. After he died, the US Pipe company, which had previously incorporated McNeal’s pipe manufacturing business in 1899, turned the mansion into offices for their company.

Several restoration projects have been proposed over the years, each aiming to restore the mansion to its former glory. Within the structure, numerous half-completed construction projects pay testament to the efforts of former owners and preservationists to revive the structure.

Speaking about his passion with Business Insider, he said, “I thought, I now have a reason to photograph these abandoned buildings, and it’s to honor and preserve that history. A lot of these abandoned places that aren’t in great shape are eventually going to disappear.”

“It’s an odd building because even though it was originally a mansion, it became a company headquarters later on with office space later on,” Lewis said.

“In the center, it looks very ornate and decorative, but when you look at the wings, they look very strange because they’re just these big open spaces. Knowing the history really helped me photograph it,” he said.

There will come a time when the iconic home will be beyond repair. However, just under a decade ago, the McNeal mansion was given a lifeline after reports surfaced that a group was interested in converting it into a business.

Despite paying close to $1.5 million for the structure that’s been deteriorating for decades, they have yet to complete their planned renovation, leaving the mansion to decay further.

Regarding the building’s potential, Jim Kennedy, the city’s economic development and redevelopment consultant, said, “There’s a lot of interest. It really has the potential to be something interesting.”

Lewis explained he already had a “great relationship” with the city manager and asked him about the possibility of photographing its interior.

He continued, “Since he knew I was insured, he said if I could sign a liability waiver, he would give me free access to the place. I was allowed to go in there and spend as much time as I wanted taking photos, as long as I shared those images with the city and the Burlington County Historical Society.”

Despite this, no building can last forever without sufficient repairs. Unless the city of Burlington decides to proceed with its plans to renovate, future owners may be forced to demolish the building and start from scratch.