32 photos — 1960 time capsule mid century modern ranch house — Camp Hill, Penn.
pam kueber - Updated: August 18, 2020
Retro Renovation stopped publishing in 2021; these stories remain for historical information, as potential continued resources, and for archival purposes.
Frigidaire Flair… basement kitchen… stone fireplaces… Hollywood Regency bedrooms… cozy, comfortable, beloved modern
Leota & Tobias Schindler, owners of this lovely house for 40+ years
Take your shoes off, come inside, and stay a while — yup: It’s our first time capsule house of an all-new year. And already, this 1960 mid century modern slash mid century modest house — just listed for sale in Camp Hill, Pennsylvania — is setting a bar that’s going to be hard to beat. It is a beauty — full of wonderful features and detail — and we have permission to feature the photos from the real estate listing for our forever archive. A gazillion thanks to reader Andrew, who not only sent the tip yesterday afternoon, but moreover, has had a close relationship with the house and its late owner. Thanks to Dan and Cheryl, son and daughter-in-law of the owners Leota and Tobias Schindler, for providing the lovely family photo shown to the right, and for permission to feature this beautiful home that has been in their family for more than 40 years. And, thanks to real estate agent Donna Fleetwood of Harrisburgh Homes.com for permission to show and archive associate Annie M’s photos — and for her enthusiasm in showcasing the beauty of the home.
Two separate seating areas flanking back-to-back stone fireplaces:
Andrew writes:
Hi Pam,
This beautiful, custom home was built in the year 1960.
In 1972, Mr. and Mrs. Schindler (Tobias and Leota) purchased the Nob Hill home after their home in Harrisburg was damaged by the Hurricane Agnes flood. Lee, as she was well known, relocated to a higher elevation on the West Shore. She chose Sunset Drive because it is the highest elevation in Camp Hill. She also wanted to be close to their business, Schindler’s Restaurant. While the restaurant was sold and is no longer there, the home is a comforting 5 minutes away from Holy Spirit Hospital. The residence is conveniently located 8 minutes from the Capital, 5 minutes from many physician’s offices, shopping, dining and entertainment.
Returning to the US in 1961, and retiring from the Air Force in 1964, the Colonel and Mrs. Schindler traveled around the world with their 4 sons, stationed in England, Japan, Texas, Georgia, California and Pennsylvania.
Some of the furnishings in the home were brought back from England and Japan. Lee lost her husband in 1984, then lived in the home for 25 years by herself. Using the 3 patios to entertain, Lee especially enjoyed her large windows and long-range views. She used the downstairs for guest quarters and entertaining.
Lee was a character, a spirited woman born of good Iowa stock, quick of wit with many friends. She loved to shop, play bridge at a competitive level and was always dressed in the latest fashion.
I moved into the neighborhood in 2005 and became acquainted with Lee until she passed away in 2009. To assist Lee & Tobias’ oldest son Dan and his wife Cheryl, I became the caretaker of the home. I’ve always admired these types of homes and fell head over heels in love with this one and its features. Cheryl, myself and our good friend Micheline Justice, who has always enjoyed interior design, staged the home to compliment the special built-ins and unique features, which create the warm and inviting atmosphere.
Andrew’s 1962 Buick LeSabre “Leota” – this is his photo 🙂
We parked my 1962 Buick LeSabre in the garage as our final touch. (I named her Leota after Mrs. Schindler.)
Dan & Cheryl think of me as family so watching this home sell is very hard for me, and I’m sure for Dan and Cheryl as well.
Once I finish taking all my retro Christmas decorations down, I’ll put back up all my normal 50’s stuff and will send you pictures.
Cheryl is sending a picture of Leota decked out in the 70’s which I would love to see included in your story. If you need close-ups of anything home related, let me know and I will run up and take pictures!
Pam, thanks again. I know I speak for Dan & Cheryl when I say how much we appreciate your featuring this on the website. The 3 of us have put so much work into this house, our heart and soul, to bring back its original charm!
Thank you!
Andrew Samples
Well, thank you, Andrew — and thank you, Daniel and Cheryl for all your help with this story, too! Yes, what a spectacular house — another example of a 1960s-era home that was absolutely lovingly cared for by its owners. Yes, envious readers: Complete with a Frigidaire Flair.
From the listing brochure:
What is a time capsule house? As you stroll through this home, you will notice that the classic features of a timeless 60’s ranch that shows pride of ownership as well as unspoiled character and charm. It was the beginning of the Space Age and the Jet Set and homes were being designed with open and modern spaces. Homes portrayed elegant refinement and this house was so essentially 60‘s, it was once featured in House Beautiful.
Set high on Nob Hill, the double lot provides a rare, quiet and convenient setting. Note the architectural features that make this home unique:
Concealed accent lighting at the ceiling in the living room and family room
Two sided stone wall fireplace with decorative insets and shelves
Room separator in living room has the original curved glass
Built in displays in the living room and lighted glass front cabinetry in dining area
60’s homes had walls of windows as you will see along the back of the house
Built in bar in the lower level with a flagstone floor for serving martinis
Lower level fireplace has a wonderful black and white mural photo of Harrisburg
Outside entertaining with multiple patios
Two kitchens, one up and one down
Extensive tile work in bathrooms
Locking lined silverware cabinet in the dining area
The vintage Frigidare Flair Stove is in working order! (similar to the one Samantha used in Bewitched)Atomic Warehouse in Harrisburg recently sold a Flair for $3200. Be sure to look on the internet and you’ll find it has quite a “cult” following!
Vintage dishwasher by Hobart in kitchen has never been used
Stone planter in the basement wall of windows
For further questions contact: Donna FleetwoodRe/Max 1st Advantage 717-591-5555 or 717-439-3459
The house has five bedrooms, two and bathrooms.
There also is a huge basement — complete with another kitchen. (Note to self: Remember to send Donna a note to give to new buyers that clarifies that Avocado is “In”.)
Dig the bar. Luv those lights! Andrew has volunteered to take more detail shots — I want to see these closer up!
And… Andrew delivered – his closeup photos, above.
I adore this shelving — with accentuate the asymmetry of the fireplace!
Cheryl sent a photo of the decorative fringe that covers the pinch pleats
Andrew sent this close up of the room divider
Another favorite feature: Simple yet stunning room divider at foyer. Notice also: That canopy lighting (is that what I should call it?) above the seating area at the front of the house. Andrew: How about close up of how the pinch pleats are trimmed out at the top??? Update: Cheryl says: “The trim for the pinch pleated sheers in the LR and family room is thick fringe ~ 4 – 5″ wide.” She adds that, the fringe is attached to a rod in front of the sheers with velcro. This fantastic designer touch allows this beautiful feature to be enjoyed when the sheers are open. Still, I’d love to see a close up — how cool!
The bedrooms include the latest in 1960 French Provincial furnishings. Tres belle! Someone help me with my French, please!
Red front door — photo from Andrew
Jan. 4, and I was already feeling the time capsule pressure. Whew! Pressure off — for at least a week. But I repeat: This will be a real tough one to beat!
What a lovely home with a heart warming history. I noticed that many of the walls have paneling, I’m curious were they always painted? I went to a home last week and the entire home was wood paneling, I immediately got a warm and fuzzy feeling. It was such a trend to add paneling in the 60’s and 70’s, but it did make the rooms so dark. I have painted all of mine and it lightens everything up but you still have the texture. I am still reminded that at one time there was a cool dark den in my homes life. Thanks for sharing Dan, Cheryl and Andrew.
Janet in CTsays
One thing I noticed this morning was that the house has a “patio”. Pam, you should do an article on patios. They were common in the fifties and sixties and nowadays we all have “decks”. One thing I distinctly remember being impressed with was my friends whose dads built a barbecue! They were made out of bricks or sometimes field stone and somebody’s old stove sacrificed the wire shelves to grill on. I still see them in backyards but I don’t know if anyone ever uses them any more now that propane grills are so popular. Unfortunately we can’t see the patio in the photos due to the snow, but it surely is the perfect house to have one with all those windows to look out on it! Just curious, Andrew and Cheryl, did it ever have a pool in the backyard?
Andrewsays
Hi,
There was never a pool but there is room for one. it has a concrete patio off the driveway/kitchen, down on the lower lever there is a beautiful flagstone patio that has steps that lead from the concrete patio down…perfect for those summer parties and then a small private patio off the master bedroom.
Thanks
Diane in COsays
Janet, I just want to offer a different perspective here. Patios are still very common, not just in the mid-decades, but now! We don’t “all have decks,” certainly not in the more established neighborhoods as opposed to newer suburbs. Decks, in fact, are not really at all appropriate when doing a renovation of an older home — and not as sustainable an option unless you are using a composite decking of some type.
In all my years as a practicing landscape architect I have designed hundreds of patios, but I would guess only a handful of decks. Though I do more renovation of existing homes, I have designed patios for many newly-constructed homes — and ranch homes as well.
This is not to say Pam shouldn’t do an article on patios (or decks) – it’s a great idea! I would guess many readers have wonderful period-appropriate outdoor furniture which would be fun to see. A discussion of mid-century manufacturers of outdoor furniture (Gold Medal of Racine, Simmons, Brown Jordan, Salterini, etc.) would be quite interesting.
Zoesays
P.S. The only thing I would change is the refrigerator — that kitchen is just crying out for a classic white Big Chill fridge! 🙂
Janet in CTsays
I just looked at the listing and maybe the fridge is just part of the staging and doesn’t go with the house – I can’t tell. I too would put in a different fridge, one that is less deep so it doesn’t stick out so far like this one does. I know there are alot of companies doing stainless in smaller depths; maybe they aren’t retro looking but they could fit in well. Every time I look at the photos, I see something else I missed before! This house is SO fascinating!
Zoesays
Ohh, want! I just spent a week looking at houses in the Bay area, where for 4X the money, you can get 1/4 the house. Wish I could move to Nob Hill — what a beautiful, beautiful house. I hope she gets owners who are deserving and appreciative of her graces.
TappanTrailerTamisays
Zoe, that is being a bit charitable….most of Palo Alto is probably 6-7 times the cost of that house, or even higher.
It is depressing here if you are a home shopper….house prices are going waaaay up here again. So much for the housing “correction”.
Just checked, and the median home price in Mt. View, CA is at $740k, which is up $84k from last year…….and Palo Alto (gulp) is at 1.33 Mil for a median price, up $284k over last year.
I’m seriously thinking of leaving here…………!!!! Maybe to PA, love this Time Capsule, and love the story of its owners even more. I hope someone will buy it and preserve it as is.
Jamie Dsays
Come to PA! Our housing is ridiculously affordable here. This time capsule is a gem and the price is outstanding…and yet, it’s still considered a fairly pricey house for the area. People expect new McMansions for $300,000 and often overlook these gems.
I live about 1.5 hours from this house. Mine is a more modest time capsule, but it’s still over 2200 sq. ft. with MASSIVE closets for a 1950s home and was half the asking price of this house.
Pennsylvania is loaded with bargain time capsules!
pam kuebersays
My mother is from Shenandoah, Pa., so I have quite a soft spot!
Sarah g (roundhouse)says
Louisiana too! My family just bought a huge one owner 1954 time capsule house over 3,000 ft2 for 143,000. Over a dozen closets, built in in every room, all original bathrooms, beautiful wallpaper, real walnut wood floor, 2 patio, massive live oaks…. It’s insane how cheap it was $40- something a square foot is unheard of!
Holleysays
Delicious! Just goes to show that Classic style never dies! I love it!
Sarah g (roundhouse)says
Beautiful house, the fireplace(s) are gorgeous! I was wondering the name of the bushes in the very front flanking the walkway. They are so sculptural, bonsai-like and appropriate to the architecture. Curious to know if they would do well in zone 9
Cherylsays
We believe they are dwarf Japanee black pines. Please check with your horticultural contacts to see if there’s a variety that will do well in your area. A quick Internet search shows these may do well in Zones 4 – 8, however we are not experts in this area. These beautiful trees are likely 30 to 40 years old.
Andrew writes:
Well, thank you, Andrew — and thank you, Daniel and Cheryl for all your help with this story, too! Yes, what a spectacular house — another example of a 1960s-era home that was absolutely lovingly cared for by its owners. Yes, envious readers: Complete with a Frigidaire Flair.
The house has five bedrooms, two and bathrooms.
There also is a huge basement — complete with another kitchen. (Note to self: Remember to send Donna a note to give to new buyers that clarifies that Avocado is “In”.)
Dig the bar. Luv those lights! Andrew has volunteered to take more detail shots — I want to see these closer up!
I adore this shelving — with accentuate the asymmetry of the fireplace!
The bedrooms include the latest in 1960 French Provincial furnishings. Tres belle! Someone help me with my French, please!
Jan. 4, and I was already feeling the time capsule pressure. Whew! Pressure off — for at least a week. But I repeat: This will be a real tough one to beat!
Leslie says
What a lovely home with a heart warming history. I noticed that many of the walls have paneling, I’m curious were they always painted? I went to a home last week and the entire home was wood paneling, I immediately got a warm and fuzzy feeling. It was such a trend to add paneling in the 60’s and 70’s, but it did make the rooms so dark. I have painted all of mine and it lightens everything up but you still have the texture. I am still reminded that at one time there was a cool dark den in my homes life. Thanks for sharing Dan, Cheryl and Andrew.
Janet in CT says
One thing I noticed this morning was that the house has a “patio”. Pam, you should do an article on patios. They were common in the fifties and sixties and nowadays we all have “decks”. One thing I distinctly remember being impressed with was my friends whose dads built a barbecue! They were made out of bricks or sometimes field stone and somebody’s old stove sacrificed the wire shelves to grill on. I still see them in backyards but I don’t know if anyone ever uses them any more now that propane grills are so popular. Unfortunately we can’t see the patio in the photos due to the snow, but it surely is the perfect house to have one with all those windows to look out on it! Just curious, Andrew and Cheryl, did it ever have a pool in the backyard?
Andrew says
Hi,
There was never a pool but there is room for one. it has a concrete patio off the driveway/kitchen, down on the lower lever there is a beautiful flagstone patio that has steps that lead from the concrete patio down…perfect for those summer parties and then a small private patio off the master bedroom.
Thanks
Diane in CO says
Janet, I just want to offer a different perspective here. Patios are still very common, not just in the mid-decades, but now! We don’t “all have decks,” certainly not in the more established neighborhoods as opposed to newer suburbs. Decks, in fact, are not really at all appropriate when doing a renovation of an older home — and not as sustainable an option unless you are using a composite decking of some type.
In all my years as a practicing landscape architect I have designed hundreds of patios, but I would guess only a handful of decks. Though I do more renovation of existing homes, I have designed patios for many newly-constructed homes — and ranch homes as well.
This is not to say Pam shouldn’t do an article on patios (or decks) – it’s a great idea! I would guess many readers have wonderful period-appropriate outdoor furniture which would be fun to see. A discussion of mid-century manufacturers of outdoor furniture (Gold Medal of Racine, Simmons, Brown Jordan, Salterini, etc.) would be quite interesting.
Zoe says
P.S. The only thing I would change is the refrigerator — that kitchen is just crying out for a classic white Big Chill fridge! 🙂
Janet in CT says
I just looked at the listing and maybe the fridge is just part of the staging and doesn’t go with the house – I can’t tell. I too would put in a different fridge, one that is less deep so it doesn’t stick out so far like this one does. I know there are alot of companies doing stainless in smaller depths; maybe they aren’t retro looking but they could fit in well. Every time I look at the photos, I see something else I missed before! This house is SO fascinating!
Zoe says
Ohh, want! I just spent a week looking at houses in the Bay area, where for 4X the money, you can get 1/4 the house. Wish I could move to Nob Hill — what a beautiful, beautiful house. I hope she gets owners who are deserving and appreciative of her graces.
TappanTrailerTami says
Zoe, that is being a bit charitable….most of Palo Alto is probably 6-7 times the cost of that house, or even higher.
It is depressing here if you are a home shopper….house prices are going waaaay up here again. So much for the housing “correction”.
Just checked, and the median home price in Mt. View, CA is at $740k, which is up $84k from last year…….and Palo Alto (gulp) is at 1.33 Mil for a median price, up $284k over last year.
I’m seriously thinking of leaving here…………!!!! Maybe to PA, love this Time Capsule, and love the story of its owners even more. I hope someone will buy it and preserve it as is.
Jamie D says
Come to PA! Our housing is ridiculously affordable here. This time capsule is a gem and the price is outstanding…and yet, it’s still considered a fairly pricey house for the area. People expect new McMansions for $300,000 and often overlook these gems.
I live about 1.5 hours from this house. Mine is a more modest time capsule, but it’s still over 2200 sq. ft. with MASSIVE closets for a 1950s home and was half the asking price of this house.
Pennsylvania is loaded with bargain time capsules!
pam kueber says
My mother is from Shenandoah, Pa., so I have quite a soft spot!
Sarah g (roundhouse) says
Louisiana too! My family just bought a huge one owner 1954 time capsule house over 3,000 ft2 for 143,000. Over a dozen closets, built in in every room, all original bathrooms, beautiful wallpaper, real walnut wood floor, 2 patio, massive live oaks…. It’s insane how cheap it was $40- something a square foot is unheard of!
Holley says
Delicious! Just goes to show that Classic style never dies! I love it!
Sarah g (roundhouse) says
Beautiful house, the fireplace(s) are gorgeous! I was wondering the name of the bushes in the very front flanking the walkway. They are so sculptural, bonsai-like and appropriate to the architecture. Curious to know if they would do well in zone 9
Cheryl says
We believe they are dwarf Japanee black pines. Please check with your horticultural contacts to see if there’s a variety that will do well in your area. A quick Internet search shows these may do well in Zones 4 – 8, however we are not experts in this area. These beautiful trees are likely 30 to 40 years old.
Eartha Kitsch says
Absolutely gorgeous. You can tell that it has been well-loved and cared for.
Tricia says
What a beautiful house! It looks like such a happy home. Thank you for sharing.
lynda says
Very lovely. Nice to see such a well kept home. Lots of design details for retro homes.
Mark says
Love the kitchen & bath fixtures. We have a Fridgidaire Flair (complete w/ flip-open hood) ready to go in our “Storybook Ranch” retro-restoration…