Hummelstown Walking Tour Brochure.indd
Transcription
Hummelstown Walking Tour Brochure.indd
19 - 138 East Main Street and 142 East Main Street 24 - 4 East Main Street on the Square E. MAIN STREET 14 15 16 ry Ro ad The Alberta Imboden Store and the Brightbill House are owned by the Hummelstown Area Historical Society. After a fire in 1912, the Imboden Store was rebuilt and retains that appearance today. The Brightbill House was also built at the turn of the 20th Century. Both houses have front porches. Previously, frugal German and English residents utilized the entire lots for homes, barns, outhouses, smokehouses, summer kitchens, chicken coops, and gardens. Industrialization and labor saving devices allowed families time to build houses with front porches on which they could sit and visit with passers-by and neighbors. 17 15 A 1) on Rosanna Street, Home of the Hummelstown Area Historical Society. Please return to the Parish House as your last stop on the tour. The Parish House and Hummel Cemetery were purchased by the Historical Society in 2012. For information, visit www.hummelstownhistoricalsociety.org. The Warwick Hotel is another tavern on Main Street and to this day demonstrates the importance of these businesses throughout Hummelstown’s history. The structure was built in the early 1800s. Travelers in carriages, wagons and stage coaches stopped here on their travels between Philadelphia and Harrisburg. One side was reserved as a ladies parlor; the other side was a barroom visited by men. The Warwick survived Prohibition in the 1920s, and resumed business as a tavern by 1933. 32 West Main Street 18 19 Your tour begins at the 1815 Parish House ( 12 West Main Street 28 - 28 West Main Street and 20 Quar 27 - E. Long Alley S. WATER STREET The Keystone Hotel, now an apartment building, was built in 1839 by George Fox after the inn that his father, John Fox, owned had burned. His name and date appear on the brownstone step leading into the center hall of the hotel. The hotel was popular as a resting stop for travelers on the Reading to Harrisburg turnpike. The town’s first telephone was installed in the hotel in 1901. The hotel hosted social gatherings, served as a polling site, and entertained workers from the Union Canal and the quarries. Cattle and horse sales occurred at the rear of the property. As the hotel’s popularity grew, the modest building was enlarged with additions including a third floor. A brick smoke house and brownstone kitchen are at the rear of the property. The Brownstone (the site of Bill’s Restaurant) refers to an architecture style as well as a building material. Brownstones came to be known as the row houses which were popular in the late nineteenth century in Brooklyn and Manhattan. The structures are called brownstones because these multiplestory row houses are clad in the stone. Hummelstown’s Brownstone has been “dressed” with a brownstone foundation, door steps, window sills, and lintels. The bricks and mortar are made of pulverized brownstone. N. WATER STREET 40 East Main Street W. Long Alley 11 12 13 10 S. HANOVER STREET 23 - 8 West Main Street 8 7 22 21 9 S. ROSANNA STREET The Reformed Church (today named the United Church of Christ) is another example of brownstone in a public building. The 1907 church was built with the then popular Richardson Romanesque Style. This style features towers, leaded and stained glass windows, asymmetrical floor plans, pointed arched windows and doorways, and extensive use of masonry. Brownstone was a durable building material, but easily cut by contracted stonecutters immigrating from Italy. 6 23 24 E. North Alley t Corner of East Main Street and Water Street 5 tree 22 - w. MAIN STREET ad S At this intersection, one stands at Hummelstown’s Old Commercial District, the oldest commercial district in town. The earliest deed for a corner property is 1752. In 1790, the Rahm and Baum Store sat on the corner across the street. Water Street is named for the early wells dug along this street and property owners paid fees to have the right to “draw” water. 25 27 26 28 2 ailro 26 - Intersection of Main and Water Streets 3 S. R 21 - 4 t The Clunie House, now a computer store, is one of the oldest log structures in town. In 1681, William Penn was the original owner of this land. James Clunie “kept store” here. Mr. Clunie sold the building to John Barnard who sold it to Abraham Landis who ultimately transferred the property to Fredrick, son of the town’s founder. The location on the Square always insured the value of the property to business persons. An Esso gas station was once situated here as automobiles became prominent. Underground passages as part of the Underground Railroad in the Civil War allegedly connected the property to 112 East Main and 26 West Main Streets. tree The Shope House is a two-family brick house built in 1878 by Dr. Jacob Shope who operated a drug store adjoining the property at 112 East Main Street. The unassuming frame structure had a hidden vaulted room in the basement which may have been part of the Underground Railroad. The brick house features brownstone in its round arched windows, window lintels, sills, and foundations. The drug store eventually became the site of Harvey Schaeffer’s harness and saddle shop. Mr. Scheaffer provided an important service for farmers with workhorses and town residents with horses used to pull carriages. ad S 2-6 West Main Street on the Square N. HANOVER STREET 25 - 114 and 116 East Main Street w1 W. North Alley N. ROSANNA STREET 20 - Hummelstown’s 250th Celebration Self-Guided Walking Tour of Main Street Sponsored by the Hummelstown Area Historical Society ailro The Old Hummel Homestead is now Bowser’s Furniture Store, the oldest family business still operating in town. The Bowsers bought the furniture and funeral home from the Karmany Family in 1928. Caskets were made by the same craftsmen that built furniture, which explains why early undertaker and furniture businesses were owned by the same merchant. This was an early limestone home owned by Hummel descendants. Founded in 1924, the oldest business serving Hummelstown residents is Bell’s Meat Market located across the Swatara Bridge. N. R The Hummel Houses are the earliest structures owned by the Hummel descendants. Both houses are built of logs. Frederick Hummel had eleven children, and each of those children produced large families. The Hummels had a significant presence in early Hummelstown as builders, shop owners, and landlords. Dauphin County deeds show that Hummel’s second wife and widow inherited these properties. Hummel grandsons bought the properties from Hummel’s estate for a store. The Grovesville family descendants still own the corner property. Thank you to the following Sponsors of the Walking Tour whose generous donations support the Hummelstown Area Historical Society’s mission of preservation: Down a Country Road 295 East Main Street w Indian Echo Caverns 368 Middletown Road Roxy’s Chatterbox Cafe 254 West Main Street The Law Firm of Wion, Zulli & Seibert & w 113 East Main Street w Posies Rods and Customs 219 North Duke Street Razzle’s Ice Cream Parlor 40 West Main Street The Wagner Insurance Agency 107 West Main Street — Walking Tour of Main Street — 1- 12 North Rosanna Street The 1815 Parish House was built on land that Frederick Hummel designated for use as a church in 1764. Its presence was assured because it was intentionally built on the highest point of land in the community. The Parish House replaced a log structure that burned in 1814. Today, the Parish House is still used for religious ceremonies, and is also the museum of the Hummelstown Area Historical Society, the official host of the tour. Frederick and Rosina Hummel are buried in the adjoining Hummel Memorial Cemetery. Fourteen Revolutionary War soldiers are also buried in the Hummel cemetery. The stone wall that circles the cemetery had a purpose—to keep cattle, horses, mules, pigs, goats, chickens, and wildlife out of the cemetery. 2- Corner of Main and Rosanna The “newer” Zion Lutheran Church is located at the corner of Main and Rosanna Streets, named after Frederick Hummel’s first wife. Built in the 1890s, the church features brownstone from the nearby Walton Brownstone Quarries. Brownstone was a popular building material in the country between 1880 and 1920. Brownstone appears extensively in Hummelstown structures because the Waltons wanted to see how stone could be used. Brownstone was used for buildings and bridges, as well as tombstones, curbs, window sills, steps, and foundations in town. On the opposite corner is Razzle’s Ice Cream Parlor and two blocks away is Roxy’s Chatterbox Cafe, both sponsors of the Walking Tour. 3- 118 West Main Street The three-story stone Walmer House was built by Samuel Walmer. Mr. Walmer was well known because he sold, repaired, and rented buggies and wagons to residents as well visitors and traveling salesmen. The Walmer Carriage Works was located on the lot that today is occupied by the funeral home. The house was built in 1844 in a Greek Revival style. Limestone or fieldstone was plentiful in the area, therefore homes, businesses, and barns were built of this material. One local quarry is located across the Swatara Creek on the Hoernerstown Road. 4- 120 West Main Street This 1890 Queen Anne Home at the corner of Main and Railroad Streets is a stately home that was the western boundary of Hummelstown, as originally designed by Hummel. This part of town was developed when the railroad was built north of the town in the 1850s. Railroad Street is aptly named because the street leads one to the train tracks. The railroad, and the Union Canal by the Swatara Creek built in 1848, increased Hummelstown’s prominence as a commercial center. 5- 201 West Main Street Nissley’s Mammoth Store, as referred to by the Hummelstown Sun in 1892, is one example of the commercial development that occurred after the Civil War in this part of town. This store is on Lot #1 in the later phase of Hummelstown’s development. The three-story building was remodeled about 1868 in the Italian Villa style. The building was originally built in 1847 of limestone, and then sheathed in brick. Walk behind the building to see the transformation. An attached building was built in a Mission Revival Style for the National Bank founded in 1882. 6- 107 West Main Street The Abner Hummel House is a very old brick structure with a new facade. Abner Hummel built several properties in town and was the great-grandson of Frederick Hummel. The Wagner Insurance Agency is located in the structure and is a proud sponsor of the Walking Tour. This business is the second oldest family business in town having been founded in 1932 by Samuel Wagner, then owned by son Russell Wagner and currently owned by grandson Dale Wagner. 7- 41 West Main Street “Big Bend” in the Swatara. The Hershey Fountain on the Square provided drinking water for horses but was removed when the trolley tracks went through the Square starting in 1905. Later, a famous arch adorned the Square’s center, advertising the Indian Echo Caverns, a sponsor of the Walking Tour. (And who can forget the town’s Christmas tree in the Square!) Parades through the Square honored the Hummelstown men and women who participated in every American War since the Revolution. Be sure to look at the plaques in the Square that display old pictures of the community. Town residents may recall Hocker’s Pharmacy on the Square established in 1908. It was at this time that the automobile first appeared in the Square. Posies Rods and Customs is also a sponsor of the Walking Tour and it is always fun to see one of their custom cars drive through the Square. 14 - 113 East Main Street 10 - 13 East Main Street 15 - Joseph Hummel House was built in 1817 as a wedding present for Joseph and Elizabeth Hummel. Joseph was the grandson of Frederick Hummel. During its history, the building housed a store, the first bank in town, and the first post office, as well as various physician offices. The house features Georgian architecture and uses local limestone. An old stone barn resides at the rear of the property. The Tavern House, at the corner of Main and Rosanna Street, is a small log house enlarged with a frame addition to look like a white clapboarded New England Federal house. In 1793, Frederick Hummel II purchased the log structure from Jacob Dearing, a fellow soldier in the American Revolutionary War. Major William Gould of the New Jersey Infantry accompanied George Washington on his western expedition to put down the Whiskey Rebellion. In his diary entry for October 2, 1794, Major Gould wrote “Marched to Hummelstown—a handsome village with kind inhabitants; we were invited into their homes and had good entertainment in taverns.” President Washington’s personal diary also acknowledges his visit to Hummelstown. 11 - 8- The stately Henderson House is a three-story Greek Revival townhouse, built of local brick, and listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Dr. William Henderson bought Lot #10 in 1823 as a site to practice medicine. His widow, Sarah, built the present home in the 1850s. Their son, Dr. William B. Henderson also practiced medicine in this home. The house was bought by the Fox family in 1877 and later became home to the beloved Mary Fox Doll Hospital. 10 West Main Street The Nisley House was a brick house when built in 1830. In the 1880s–1890s, the structure was “victorianized” with a coat of white paint, new windows, front door, and “ballroom” on the third floor. W. H. Siple renovated the house to demonstrate the lumber products available at his lumberyard on Second Street. In the mid-1950s, the building was a popular dining establishment operated by the Nisleys. 9- The Square The Square’s diamond design was created by Hummel 250 years ago where Main Street, originally called Market, and Hanover Streets crossed. Today, travelers use these same streets to drive to Harrisburg, Stoverdale and Middletown, Derry and Reading, and across the Swatara Creek to the farms in the Hanovers. Early settlers noted that Hummelstown was located at the 25 East Main Street The site of an insurance office, the Gish Buser House is log construction, and may date back as far as 1802. George Gish was the proprietor of a store in one portion of the house. His daughter married butcher Wills Buser. The Buser families lived here for 110 years. Meals were prepared in the large summer kitchen attached to the rear. Hummelstown’s first bath tub was located in this log house. 12 - 13 - 31 East Main Street 39 East Main Street The Engine House at 39 East Main Street was built in 1869 by the Niobe Fire Company. A single bay in the front housed the horse-drawn fire engine, with entrance doors on either side. Offices, as well as a jail, were located in the rear. The horses that pulled the fire engine were housed in a barn in the back. Hummelstown residents preferred stone and brick structures to wood because of the great threat fire posed to the wooden structures in town. The Fox House is a center hall Federal Home built prior to the Civil War. The builder was Richard Hummel, another Hummel descendant and builder. Originally the property was the site of the Seven Stars Tavern owned by Revolutionary War soldier, Peter Spayde. Dr. Thomas Fox bought this house in 1877 and used a downstairs room for his office. This is Lot #5 as surveyed by Hummel in 1762. The lot measures 60 feet by 198 feet and extends from Main Street to the rear alley. 113 East Main Street, the site of the 250th Anniversary Headquarters, is also the office of Jean Seibert and the firm of Wion, Zulli and Seibert, a sponsor of the Walking Tour. The house displays patriotic bunting from Down a Country Road, also a sponsor of the Tour. The Corner of Main Street and Quarry Road When standing at the corner in the 1760s, you could look across the street at Grovesville, once a Derry Township village. You would also be standing on Lot #1 of Hummel’s original surveyed plan. Look to the rear of the parking lot and see the Red Horse Barn (15A on the map) in the alley. Early Pennsylvania towns are noted for their alleys. The red barn is a surviving example of a horse and carriage barn. The horse and carriage (or wagon) were on the ground level while hay and straw were stored in the loft. 16 - 211 East Main Street The Mullin House is actually two brick houses joined with a single mansard roof. The west side of the building is the older part, built in 1829. The east side was probably built for older family members since there are interior doors between the two structures. The older side has fireplaces; the newer side has chimneys for coal stoves. The interior woodwork is ornate which is unusual for Hummelstown homes. The original owners were wealthy. 17 - 224 East Main Street The Balsbaugh & Karmany House is a limestone house with a step stone dated 1854. The structure is a side hall, Georgian townhouse. The house was owned by John Balsbaugh, a successful landowner of more than 500 acres of farm land. The Karmany family founded the furniture store on the Square. The wrought iron fence and herringbone brick sidewalk are later “refinements” to this property. 18 - 222 East Main Street The Grove Log House, the original Grove homestead, was built around 1800 and is the oldest unaltered structure on Main Street. The downstairs featured three rooms. An enclosed staircase leads to four upstairs rooms. At that time, windows and doors would have been crafted in Philadelphia and shipped to the town for the house. The steep roof was intended to shed snow. There are at least twelve log structures in Hummelstown.