Hamanassett was originally designed as a six-room Downings Northern Farmhouse, the brainchild of Dr. Charles Delucene Meigs, President of the Royal College of Physicians in the mid-nineteenth century. The house was to have been a retreat for his medical proteges and later his own residence, but, Dr. Meigs died before this was realized.

Soon thereafter, Michael J. Dohan purchased the property. The Dohan family lived at Hamanassett for 130 years.

It was Michael Dohan's son, Joseph, who, between 1899 and 1925, renovated the six-room Downings Farmhouse into the present day Federalist mansion, keeping its same name.

Hamanassett has always been renown for its hospitality and gracious elegance. At the turn of the century, it was headquarters for the Lima Hunt, a world-recognized private fox hunting organization. People came from far and wide, but mostly from England, to have a week or two of fox hunting.

Joseph M. Dohan was also a Philadelphia Lawyer, and was head of the Glen Mills Paper Company in the early years of this century, managing to come through the Great Depression like the proverbial rose.

Hamanasset was made into a year-round home for the Dohans about 1900. Up until then, it had been only a summer retreat from Philadelphia's heat. It is difficult to imagine how it must have been: no heat except seven fireplaces; no electricity (some of the original gas-jet lighting fixtures are extant); no plumbing; water hauled from a springhouse. Still, Hamanassett, at the turn of this century and for some years thereafter, was known as one of the great private showpieces of the Valley.

In 1933, Joseph Dohan died, and his widow, world-recognized archeologist Dr. Edith Dohan, had to sell approximately 300 acres to settle tax claims. The halcyon days of fox hunting ended. Before her marriage to Joseph Dohan, Dr. Dohan was Dr. Edith Hall, one of only two women in the field when the Minoan Culture was excavated and the palace of Minos in Gurnia, Crete was discovered. After Joseph Dohan's death, Dr. Dohan returned to her career (and her maiden name/title) and became Curator of the Classics at the University of Pennsylvania Museum. She died there in 1943.

Joseph and Edith's son, David next became owner of Hamanassett. He and his wife, Evelene, ran the estate. Evelene established Hamanassett as a Bed & Breakfast in 1984 and it has enjoyed increasing popularity since that time. In 2001, Glenn and Ashley Mon purchased Hamanassett, reestablishing themselves as innkeepers. Prior to moving to Pennsylvania four years ago, they owned a Bed & Breakfast in New Orleans. The owners may have changed, but the warmth and gracious hospitality for which Hamanassett has been known since the mid-nineteenth century has not changed, which makes the current hosts quite satisfied.