"Titus Chapman Lyman House",
Intelligencer Newspaper,
May 7, 1997

An old funeral home has been given a new life. An extensive renovation over the past 18 months transformed the former Donahue Funeral Home, diagonally accross from the Bucks County Courthouse, into a professional building with 17 offices.  Yet the historic exterior of the 190-year-old, three story brownstone structure-traditionally known as the Titus, Chapman, Lyman House, not only was kept intact but enhanced with a new roof, copper gutters and downspouts, paint, and Landscaping.
The interior was revamped to create office space with modern utilities while restoring most of the original woodwork and windows.  This successful renovation has won the Historic Building Award from the Bucks County Chapter of the American institute of Architects and the Central Bucks Chamber of Commerce.  The award recognizes a Bucks County building at least 50 years old that has retained its original character and architectural integrity.  The General Contractor was
R & R Morano
The original house, on the northwest corner of Broad and Main Streets, was built in 1807 for Zenick Titus, a saddle and harness maker.  He sold it in 1811 to attorney Abraham Chapman, grandfather of Henry Mercer.  Chapman enlarged the house and lived there until his death in 1856.
The property went through several owners and served as a boarding house in the 1920's under the name of Pratt and Lyman's.  In the 1930's undertaker Walter Bachman Jr. converted the building into his residence and funeral home.
Phillip Donahue, who bought the property in 1979, lived and ran a funeral home there until he sold it to Hopkins in July 1995.  Bob Morano, owner of R & R Morano of Perkasie said renovations began in December 1995 with replacement of the roof with shingles that simulated the old slate.  Extensive interior work included a new electrical system, heating system, central air conditioning, light fixtures, French doors, and custom hardwood flooring designs.

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