THE HOUSE
The Pomerene Center for the Arts is housed in the Johnson-Humrickhouse Home built in 1836 by Anna (nee Johnson) and George Silliman. George was a well-traveled attorney who admired the splendid homes of the American South and the classical architecture of Europe while serving as US ambassador to Spain. His knowledge of and interest in architectural design was reflected in the construction of his elegant home. The house is listed on the National Historic Register as a premier example of Greek Revival architecture.

Their only son having proceeded them in death, the Sillimans left the property to Anna’s extended Johnson family - 4 of whom had married Humrickhouses. By the 1930’s, the property was in possession of the Johnson brothers who, with encouragement from the executer of their estate Warner Pomerene, left their extensive collections of Asian and Native American art and artifacts along with the house to what is now the Johnson-Humrickhouse Museum in Roscoe.

At the time of donation, the house was in extreme disrepair and by default came into the possession of Warner and Lora Pomerene who restored it in the late 40’s. In keeping with the generosity of the Johnson brothers, the Pomerenes left the house to the community upon their deaths. The Pomerene Center for the Arts was formed in 1984 to promote community involvement in the arts and insure the continued use of the home as a community facility.