In 1891 the Rector of St. Luke's Episcopal Church, Reverend John Heber McCandless, married to Henry Hamlin's daughter, Emma Marian Hamlin McCandless, with financial backing from his father-in-law, contracted the construction of a magnificent home on West Main Street.

The Hamlin- McCandless Residence was built by Victorian era architect E.N. Unruh as the grand home of Henry Hamlin’s daughter Emma & her Scottish husband (& Saint Lukes Episcopal Priest) John Heber McCandless. Completed in 1891, the home featured classic, Queen Anne architecture. Following the construction of Emma’s brother’s home in 1900, the McCandless home was radically enlarged so it would have proper proportions next to her brother’s home. (O.J. Hamlin Mansion is located immediately to the west of the Mansion District Inn).


photo credit: Souvenir of Smethport @1895

In 1903, following the construction of the Mrs. McCandless' brother's home brick O.J.Hamlin Mansion next door,  the architect was called back to expand the home.  The east end and south end of the home were extended, with the fanciest rooms yet.  Only the finest of craftsmanship was suitable for the home of Henry Hamlin's children!

In 1903 the McCandless' also contracted a horseless carriage house on the rear of their large property which would house their Pierce Arrow automobile.  The driver lived on the right hand side of the building.  Since the automobile did not have reverse a large turntable was built into the floor so the vehicle could be revolved and driven out of the garage!  Large iron gates were imported from Europe to complete the estate.

Rev. John Heber McCandless, eldest son of John and Rebecca Randolph (Sanderson) McCandless, was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, November 4, 1844. He was educated at McCandless Institute, Allegheny Seminary, and the Western University of Pennsylvania (now University of Pittsburgh), whence he was graduated Bachelor of Arts, class of 1864, receiving from his alma mater in 1867 the degree of Master of Arts. He then began the study of divinity, entered the General Theological Seminary (Episcopal) of New York City, whence he was graduated in 1867. He was ordained deacon by Bishop Kerfoot in Trinity Church in Pittsburgh, on Trinity Sunday, June 16, 1867; ordained priest by Bishop Kerfoot in St. Peter's Church, Pittsburgh, Friday, March 3, 1871. He was in charge of Trinity Church, Connelsville, Pennsylvania, 1867-69; in charge of St. Peter's Church, Blairsville, Pennsylvania; Trinity Church, Freeport, Pennsylvania; Christ Church, Indiana, Pennsylvania, 1870-72. He was rector of All Saint's Church, Pittsburgh, 1872-76; rector of St. John's Church, Newark, New Jersey, 1876-78; rector of St. Mark's Church, Mendham, New Jersey, 1878-80; rector of St. Luke's Church at Smethport, Pennsylvania, 1880-1909, resigning the latter rectorship on account of the serious illness of his wife, after twenty-nine years of continuous service. He is a member of Lodge, Chapter and Commandery of the Masonic order and a thirty-second degree Mason of the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite. His college fraternity is Phi Gamma Delta. In politics he is an Independent. He married, October 26, 1885, at Smethport, Emma Marian Hamlin, born December 26, 1857, daughter of Henry and Hannah L. (McCoy) Hamlin. She was educated in the public schools of Smethport, later in a private in New York City. Her father, Henry Hamlin, was born in Smethport, April 9, 1830, became a merchant, leading banker and prominent citizen of Smethport. He married, August 14, 1854, Hannah L., daughter of William Y. and Charlotte A. (Darling) McCoy. She is a member of the Daughter's of the American Revolution and of St. Luke's Episcopal Church.

Hamlin Family History
Henry Hamlin, Orlo James Hamlin's father, was born April 9, 1830, in Smethport, and he early became active in business arrairs in association with his fathers or others. He ran general stores at Clermont and Eldred, then interested himself in the oil and lumber industries. Perhaps his most important business activity was his association with others in the Great Southern Lumber Company, which built a modern city in Louisiana, under the name of Bogalusa, where the company's work was centered. There Mr. Hamlin and the others were active in the creation of schools, churches, houses and many progressive institutions. He was also instrumental in erection of one of the South's leading railroads, connecting New Orleans with Jackson, Mississippi.
Henry Hamlin also founded the Hamlin Bank & Trust Company, of which his son is president. Henry Hamlin was president of the First National Bank of Port Allegany Railroad Company, the Logan, Newark and other gas companies, the Fulton and Phoenix Gas Company of New York State, the Conklin Wagon Company of Olean, and the Great Southern Lumber Company. He was president of the Buckeye Gas Company of Cincinnati, and a trustee of the Fidelity Trust & Guarentee Company of Buffalo and the Minona Mining Company of Colorado.
He was a Democrat, but became a Republican when the new party was organized because he approved freeing the slaves. Henry Hamlin married, August 14, 1854, Hannah L. McCoy, of Smethport, daughter of Dr. William Y. and Charolette Augusta (Darling) McCoy. They became the parents of the following children: 1. Laena Darling Hamlin, born June 7, 1856, wife of Robert Hutchinson Rose, a McKean County lawyer and later a State legislature; they took up their presence in Binghamton, New York. 2. Emma Marion Hamlin, born December 26, 1857, wife of the Rev. John Heber McCandless. 3. Eugenia May Hamlin, born December 2, 1865, wife of Howard E. Merrill, a leading nurseryman of Geneva, New York. 4. Orlo James Hamlin, of further mention.