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Where neglect and decay once lived, a bright future now resides.

Before there were empty rooms, cracked windows and broken dreams. Repair, pride and college students have replaced them.

Student housing in the Williamsport Historic District once (and still in a few instances) had a less then passing reputation as rundown, overcrowded party palaces. While many people have worked diligently to erase that mindset and replace it with a positive one, two brothers stand out from the crowd.

Andy and Edward Lyon have spent the last 10 years restoring once grand homes into safe and comfortable student housing that also helps restore the Victorian charm of yesteryear to the Historic District.

"Some of these homes and mansions were deplorable and in such bad shape," Edward said. "You would hear all sorts of horror stories about the tenants that were living in here before and the things that they did to the rentals. It was sad the condition these places were in."

The brothers first became interested in playing Monopoly with real buildings, when their father, Edward Lyon, Sr., first purchased a property on West Fourth Street. Each brother now has his own investments and fellow business partners involved in Historic District renovations. In addition they also work together on some family projects. Altogether, the brothers and their partners are involved with housing for nearly 700 students.

Countless hours of removing layers of filth and grime, matched with equal amounts of time spent replacing plumbing, improving heating systems and general repair were just a few of the tasks tacked. Work with city planners, architects, codes and other safety issues were dealt with, in addition to finical investments that not only were in the homes, but also the city's history.

"I think this area has so much to offer, not just for college students, but for the young professionals and older people as well," said Andy Lyon. "There is not one place that my brother or I are involve with that I would not mind living in. Some of these homes have huge ceilings, ornate modeling and fixtures and a lot of detail work you do not find in current homes."

A trip down Third and Fourth streets in the Historic District offers glimpses of the grand homes that the brothers and their respective partners have interest in. These include many homes in the 700 to 1000 blocks, which also offer prime examples of Victorian architecture.

"There is a lot of work and money was needed to preserve these magnificent homes," Edward said. "I think the generation that is enrolled in college now realizes the historical value these homes have to the city. You can also see the way that the students we rent to respect and care for the places they are staying in. That is something that has certainly changed over the years and I also think the public in general is also realizing how important this area is to the city."

Although the majority of tenets are college students enrolled at the nearby Penn College, Edward estimates about five percent are young professionals who like the idea of living in safe and historic homes.

"My partners and I never doubted in this area of the city and we knew these homes could be transformed into safe and viable parts of the community," Edward said.

Helping to maintain the high standards, a full time staff of four works year round while a small army of construction workers, painters and other carpenters work during the summer months when most of the apartments are vacant during the summer break.

"We are always working on something, whether it be working with the codes department, repainting or replacing fixtures. There is never any rest," Andy said. “ Sure, this earns us a living, but it is more than just that. Preserving these homes is the best part of this business. Seeing a place that has been nearly trashed and fixing it up to something that when people drive by they go, 'Wow. Look at that house!' is an amazing feeling. It makes all the hard work we put into this worth it."

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