Category:Hess Mansion, Allentown, Pennsylvania

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The Hess Mansion is located at 2643 W Livingston Street in Allentown. It has nearly 10,000 square feet of living space with 8 bedrooms and 9 bathrooms. The property consists of about 2 acres of land.

The home was built origionaly in 1920, and was purchaced by the owner of the Hess Brothers Department Store of Allentown, Max Hess, Jr. in 1939. After World War II, Hess expanded and transformed the property into an image of the "grand houses of Beverly Hills." The mansion includes three fireplaces, an elevator, formal dining room, guest quarters, fully furnished basement with nightclub, and a pool house with a sauna. The expansion was completed in 1954, although additonal renovations continued.

The property consists of several buildings. The main house has more than 25 rooms. The property has a pool house that includes an ice cream parlor and a sauna.

Hess gave lavish parties, to which Hollywood stars such as Bob Hope and Zsa Zsa Gabor were invited, or often paid, to attend. The Hess gatherings were often publicised. For one party, Hess is said to have transformed the home into a jungle that included live alligators in the swimming pool. In 1967, a small helicopter crashed outside Hess's home after dropping off some party guests. No one died.

Max Hess, Jr. passed away unexpectedly on September 1, 1968, at age 57. After Hess's death, the property was sold, and has had three owners (including the current owner). Today, the property is in private ownership.

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