1301 West Airy Street, Norristown, PA 19401, US
The OFFICIAL site of the Norristown Preservation Society
Preserving the history and legacy of Greater Norristown
About Us
Preserving the Past
The Norristown Preservation Society is dedicated to the preservation, celebration and promotion of historic Selma Mansion, its residents and the history and preservation of the the legacy of the Montgomery County seat.
History of Selma mansion
Selma Mansion, built in 1794 was home to General Andrew Porter and his family. Andrew Porter was a captain of marines in the Revolutionary War, later a Brigadier General in the Pennsylvania militia, Surveyor General of Pennsylvania and Great Grandfather to Mary Todd Lincoln. His son David Rittenhouse Porter was a noted ironmaster and 9th governor of Pennsylvania.
Son George Bryan Porter was appointed governor of Michigan Territory by Andrew Jackson. Youngest Porter son James Madison Porter was a colonel during the War of 1812, railroad president, founder of Lafayette College in Easton and Secretary of War under President Tyler.
In 1821 after the decease of General Porter and his widow the house and property were the residence of the Andrew Knox family. Mr. Knox was a former shipping merchant from Savannah, Georgia who farmed the land until the acquisition of the estate by his son Col. Thomas P. Knox.
Thomas Knox was an advisor to the governor of the commonwealth and president of the state agricultural society. Col. Knox expanded the acreage of the holdings by purchasing surrounding farms. It was Thomas Knox who in 1853 had 44 acres of the land divided into lots and sold precipitating the development of the west end of town. It was also he who added the beautiful ornate portico and balcony to the front of the house resulting in the familiar plantation look to the structure which lasted for over 150 years.
After the passing of Thomas Knox in 1879 the residence and remaining property went to his daughter Ellen and her husband Joseph Fornance. Fornance was a prominent lawyer and president of the Historical Society of Montgomery County. Fornance sold an additional 22 acres of the property in 1902 resulting in further development.
After the death of Joseph and Ellen Fornance in the late 1920s the Selma Mansion and surviving couple of acres around it were the home of their son Major Joseph Knox Fornance and his wife Ruth Ryder Fornance.
Major Fornance was active during WWI and later president of the Montgomery County Bar Association. With his decease in 1965 and Ruth’s in 1983 the house and property have remained largely unoccupied.
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Mailing address: 131 Hillview Road, King of Prussia PA 19406