CHAPTER 2 HISTORIC & CULTURAL RESOURCES

Transcription

1 CHAPTER 2 HISTORIC & CULTURAL RESOURCES HISTORIC DEVELOPMENT An examination of the names of townships, municipalities, and streets located within Dauphin County reveals the names of the courageous, tenacious men and women that left their homes in Philadelphia, West Chester, France, England, and Ireland to forge a new life in a pristine land. The first group of settlers, the French Huguenots such as Letort and Chartier, pushed through the frontier until they reached the Susquehanna River and the Indian Village of Peixtan. The original residents of Peixtan, the nomadic Lenni Lenape Indians, Received these pioneers and served as guides for the newcomers as they searched for animal pelts. Survival in the harsh, rugged frontier demanded perseverance from those daring enough to surmount its daily challenges. The Scotch-Irish, colonists that possessed these attributed, migrated from Ulster, Ireland to the disputed Pennsylvania- Maryland border and then to the areas along the Susquehanna River in the early days of the eighteenth century. Names such as Chambers, Maclay, and Stewart and Kelker appeared in early records listing the original inhabitants of Peshtank, Derry, Londonderry, and Hanover Townships. The Chambers family chose the mouth of Fishing Creek (currently the site of the Hunter Mansion) as the location for their family residence and mill operation. Many years later the Chambers family moved down the Susquehanna River and founded Chambersburg. In 1729 Peter Allen, one of the first colonists to explore and settle the land north of Paxton Creek, constructed a stone dwelling at the mouth of the Swatara River, which is believed to be the oldest building in Middle Paxton Township. British pioneers also colonized the area along the Susquehanna River during the early 1700 s. The site of an old Indian village called Peshtank and convergence of various Indian trails proved an acceptable location for John Harris to construct his home around He built a log cabin near the present site of Paxton and Front Streets and operated a ferry route across the Susquehanna River. This village called Harris Ferry flourished as many more people moved into the territory. Colonists continued to arrive from Ireland, England, France, Germany, and other parts of the Province, as Pennsylvania was known, and to situate their homesteads along the fertile valleys of the Susquehanna River. During the 1750 s the prosperity of these villages and the peaceful relations enjoyed with the Lenni-Lenape and Iroquois Indians slowly diminished as tensions mounted between the Indians, the French, and the British. The once tranquil territory became marred by violence and brutal murders of both the Indians and the white settlers as the French and Indian War raged. Bayonets and swords had just been retired from the battles of the French and Indian War when the residents of the territory found themselves in the American Revolutionary War. Battling to secure their freedom from the excessive English taxes and dominance, the colonists enlisted the support of the French, which proved effective. On March 4, 1785, the colonists in the territory known as Lancaster Historic & Cultural Resources 2-1 County, triumphing in their new freedom, elected to demonstrate their appreciation for the French efforts and divide Lancaster County into two counties, naming the new county Dauphin, after the oldest son of the King of France. Fort Hunter Indian Hut Reproduction By 1791 the United States had elected its first president, the Bill of Rights was added to the Constitution of the newly created United States, and John Harris lived to see the fulfillment of his ambition to establish the Borough of. His son, John, not only shared his father s aspirations to establish, but also believed that someday this town would be the seat of government in Dauphin County, and perhaps the location of the state s capitol. Harris and William Maclay designed the street pattern for the town

2 with these goals in mind. They selected several blocks for the location of the county and state government buildings and designated them as public grounds. John Harris dream of locating the county government in met with little resistance; Middletown and Carlisle were considered, but Harris arguments for were convincing. Harris encountered more hindrances, however, in his request to establish as the state capitol. The Legislature in Philadelphia realized that the perimeter of Pennsylvania was increasing as more people moved from the eastern cities to the western frontier regions, and they would eventually have to move the state capitol to a more central location for the shifting population. In 1795 the House agreed to relocate in Carlisle, but the Senate rejected this plan. In 1798, the House selected Wrightsville as its new location, but again the Senate refused. Finally, one year later, both parties agreed that Lancaster would be an acceptable location for the seat of government. For thirteen years, state governmental activities transpired in Lancaster while John Harris public land set aside for such activities would serve as a spot where citizens would excavate sand and gravel. Unsatisfied with the facilities and location of Lancaster, however, the Legislature again decided to relocate. In 1822, twenty-seven years after John Harris began his crusade to establish as the state capitol, the gavel struck the Speaker of the House s desk on Capitol Hill in and the Legislature commenced operations. Activity not only flourished on the blocks occupied by governmental buildings, but also throughout Dauphin County. In the late 1820 s, an agreement was signed to bring the Pennsylvania Canal through the County, linking it to markets of western Pennsylvania, as well as parts of New York and New Jersey. Barge traffic along the Susquehanna River escalated, bringing new products, ideas, and residents to Dauphin County. The Pennsylvania Railroad, destined to become the world s largest railroad, built its first section of railroad from to Lewistown. Steel companies such as Bethlehem Steel developed in the area to support the railroad companies need for steel products. The area s centralized location in the state and access to a major waterway, the Susquehanna River, made it an ideal center for transportation. Lumber mills soon dotted the shoreline of the Susquehanna River, sending their timber products downstream to the railroad centers throughout Dauphin County. The various industries that developed along the scenic Susquehanna River banks, the early battles argued in the original capitol building, and the early relations between the Indians and settlers such as Harris, Chambers, Maclay, and Allen are all rich, valuable reminders of the Dauphin County heritage. HISTORIC PRESERVATION PLANNING In 1977 the Tri-County Regional Planning Commission prepared an Historic Preservation Plan as an element of the Regional Land Use Plan project. The purpose was to provide a basic framework for municipalities to work toward organizing their own historic preservation activities. The project was intended to increase public awareness of the importance of preserving and maintaining sites and structures indicative of man s religious, cultural and physical development. It also outlined a series of technical guidelines and implementation mechanisms available for historic preservation activities in the Region. The current list of officially recognized historical assets were inventoried and mapped for the Regional Growth Management Plan. This information is depicted on MAP 2-1. Like environmental limitation data, identifying the location of special and historical features is useful in determining the most suitable areas for growth and development. National Register of Historic Sites Properties and historic districts on the National Register are recognized by the Federal Government and the Commonwealth as being worthy of preservation. They are provided some protection from proposed federal funded projects that might adversely impact them. The criteria for evaluation and consideration is based on the quality of significance in American history, architecture, Historic & Cultural Resources 2-2

3 archeology, engineering and culture. The register identifies these sites and features in the form of historic districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects that possess integrity of location, design, setting, materials, workmanship, and association with historic events, person s lives, distinctive characteristics of a unique period or method of construction, artistic values or other distinguishable entity. A list of Dauphin County National Register sites is listed in TABLE 2-1 and depicted on MAP 2-1. Pennsylvania Historic and Museum Commission Marker Sites In 1945 a major initiative was started by the Pennsylvania Historic and Museum Commission to create a program to erect historical markers throughout Pennsylvania. Of the nearly 1500 markers throughout the Commonwealth, approximately 8% are located in the Tri-County Region. All historical markers in Dauphin County are listed in TABLE 2-2 and depicted on MAP 2-1. Fort Hunter Dauphin County Historic Marker Historic Church Historic & Cultural Resources 2-3

4 NORTHUMBERLAND MIFFLIN PILLOW 225 BERRYSBURG LYKENS GRATZ SCHUYLKILL UPPER PAXTON WILLIAMS 25 WICONISCO WILLIAMSTOWN 209 LYKENS WASHINGTON MILLERSBURG 209 ELIZABETHVILLE JACKSON JEFFERSON PERRY HALIFAX HALIFAX WAYNE 325 RUSH REED MIDDLE PAXTON EAST HANOVER DAUPHIN 443 WEST HANOVER 81 LEBANON SUSQUEHANNA 39 CUMBERLAND LOWER PAXTON SOUTH HANOVER DERRY HARRISBURG PENBROOK PAXTANG 83 SWATARA 322 HUMMELSTOWN 322 LOWER SWATARA STEELTON 283 CONEWAGO HIGHSPIRE MIDDLETOWN ROYALTON LONDONDERRY LANCASTER YORK HISTORIC MARKERS NATIONAL REGISTER DAUPHIN COMPREHENSIVE PLAN 2008 TRI- REGIONAL PLANNING COMMISSION TRI- REGIONAL PLANNING COMMISSION AND PLANNING COMMISSION MAKE NO WARRANTY OR REPRESENTATION, EITHER EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED, WITH RESPECT TO THE ACCURACY OF DATA REPRESENTED FOR ANY PARTICULAR PURPOSE. THE DATA IS PROVIDED AS IS AND THE USER ASSUMES ALL RISK OF USE. MAP 2-1 NATIONAL REGISTER AND HISTORIC MARKERS SITES DAUPHIN, PENNSYLVANIA PREPARED BY TRI- REGIONAL PLANNING COMMISSION DATE: NOVEMBER 2003 SOURCE: PENN DOT & T.C.R.P.C mi

5 Dauphin County Comprehensive Plan: Basic Studies & Trends TABLE 2-1 NATIONAL REGISTER SITES Dauphin County Area Name of Building or Structure General Location Year Listed Berrysburg Romberger-Stover House Market Street 1980 Derry Hershey Community Center 2 Chocolate Ave.,Hershey 1980 Derry High Point (Milton S. Hershey Mansion) Mansion Rd.,Hershey 1978 East Hanover John Todd House South Mountain Rd Broad Street Market Verebeke St Simon Cameron School 1839 Green St Camp Curtain Fire Station 2405 N. Sixth St Colonial Theater Third and Market St Dauphin County Courthouse Front and Market St William Donaldson House 2005 N. 3 rd Street 1990 German Evangelical Zion Lutheran Church Capitol and Herr St Greenwalt (Kogan) Building Market St William R. Griffith House / Cathedral House 215 N. Front St Harris Switch Tower (PA Railroad) 637 Walnut Street 1994 John Harris Mansion (Simon Cameron House) 219 S. Front St Central Rail Station Aberdeen St Technical High School / Old City Hall 423 Walnut St th Street Armory 1313 S. 19th St Keystone Building S. 3rd St Kunkle(Feller) Building 301 Market St Market Street Bridge Market St. over Susq. River 1988 Salem United Church of Christ 231 Chestnut St William Seel Building 319 Market St Senate Hotel 122 Market St Sheffield Apartments 2003 N. 3rd St Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Bridge State St. over 130 Spur & Paxton Creek 1988 State Capitol Building Third and State Streets 1977 Telegraph Building Locust Street 1986 Pennsylvania State Lunatic Hospital Cameron St /Wormleysburg Walnut Street Bridge Walnut St. over Susq. River 1972 Highspire Highspire High School 221 Penn St Hummelstown Dr. William Henderson House 31 E. Main St Hummelstown Keystone Hotel 40 E. main St Hummelstown Enoch Matlick House 250 E. Main St Hummelstown Zion Lutheran Church and Graveyard N. W. corner of Rosanna St Jackson/Wayne Twps. Shoop Site 36DA20 Address Restricted 1986 Londonderry Henry Smith (Hidden Spring) Farm 950 Swatara Crk Rd. Middtwn 1988 Lower Swatara John Motter Barn / Star Barn Complex Nissley 283 Lykens Grand Army of the Republic Building 628 N. Second St Lykens Twp. Bridge in Lykens Twp. LR over Pine Creek 1988 Lykens Twp. Bridge in Lykens Twp. LR over tributary to Pine Creek 1988 Middle Paxton John Ayers House N.W. of Dauphin on PA Middletown B'NAI Jacob Synagogue Nissley and Water Streets 1985 Middletown Simon Cameron House 30 E. Main St Middletown Simon Cameron Bank 28 E. Main St Middletown Charles and Joseph Raymond Houses 37 and 38 Union St Middletown St. Peter's Keirch 31 W. High St Middletown Swatara Ferry House 400 Swatara St Mifflin Dauphin County Bridge #27/Seaman Bridge Diebler's Bam Rd. over Mahantango Creek 1993 Reed Bridge in Reed Twp. TR 147 over Powell's Creek 1988 Susquehanna/Marysville (Perry Co.) Rockville Bridge 3 miles N. of Hbg. across the Susquehanna River 1975 Susquehanna Archibald McAllister House / Fort Hunter Mansion 5300 N. Front St Washington Henninger Farm Covered Bridge T-624 over Wiconisco Creek 1978 Source: National Register of Historic Places Historic & Cultural Resources 2-5

6 Dauphin County Comprehensive Plan: Basic Studies & Trends TABLE 2-2 PENNSYLVANIA HISTORIC MUSEUM COMMISSION HISTORIC MARKERS Dauphin County Area Marker Reference General Location Year Marked Derry Derry Church SR 743 N. of US 422 near the Church 1948 Derry Derry Churchyard US 422 at E end of Hershey 1948 Derry Union Canal Hanover St. just S. of Union Deposit and N. of SR 39 (Hershey Park Dr.) 1948 East Hanover Hanover Church US miles NE of, intersection of PA East Hanover Hanover Resolves US 22, 14 miles NE of, E. of intersection of PA East Hanover Fort Manada PA 443 near Manada Gap 1970 Halifax Fort Halifax PA 124, 0.5 miles north of Halifax Boro 1946 Camp Curtin 6th and Woodbine St Lincoln Cemetery 30th St. and Boozer Ave Mira Lloyd Dock Riverfront Park 1996 Dauphin County Courthouse Front and Market St City of Gateways Gateway markers on older main highways leading into the City 1946 Cemetery NE Corner of 13th and State St Old Salem Church Chestnut St. between 2nd and 3rd Streets 1968 Executive Mansion Former 111 S. 2nd St Abraham Lincoln S. Market Square (east side) 1953 Market Square S. Market Square (east side) 1953 Eagle Hotel At former 21 North 2nd St Old Courthouses Market St. between 2nd and 3rd St T.Morris Chester Market Square near 3rd St Presidential Convention 14 S. 4th St., Zion Lutheran Church 1953 Pennsylvania Canal Walnut St. at the Forum Bldg John Harris' Gift Capitol Park at 3rd and Walnut St State Capitol Main entrance of Capitol (south of steps) 1953 Old Brick Capitol Main entrance of Capitol (south of steps) 1953 Grace Methodist Church State St. between 2nd and 3rd Streets 1968 Executive Mansion Governor's Home, N. of 2nd St. near McClay St Executive Mansion Riverfront Park, Front and McClay St John Harris Mansion S. Front St. at Mansion 1946 Harris Ferry Riverfront Park opposite John Harris Mansion 1970 State Hospital N. Cameron St. beside the Hospital 1987 Paxtang Manor Riverfront Park, Front and Calder St William McClay Riverfront Park, Front and South St Executive Mansion Riverfront Park, opposite former N. Front St Camel Back Bridge Front and Market St. in Riverfront Park 1953 Pennsylvania Farm Show MaClay St. in front of Farm Show Complex 1991 Highspire Col. James Burd PA 230 in Highspire 1946 Lower Paxton Barnett's Fort PA 39, 1.4 miles E. of the Linglestown Sq Lower Paxton Patton's Fort PA 39, 1.4 miles W. of Linglestown Sq Lower Paxton Paxton Riflemen US 22, 5.7 miles NE of 1947 Middle Paxton Col. Timothy Green PA 225.,.2 miles N. of Dauphin Borough 1948 Middletown Union Canal SR 320 E. of Middletown at Swatara Creek 1984 Middletown Saint Peter's Kierch Spring and High St. at Church 1969 Middletown Camp George Gordon Meade PA 441 at Middletown Area School near Turnpike underpass 1966 Middletown Burd Tombs PA 441 just N. of Middletown 1946 Middletown Middletown Borough Gateway marker on PA 230 just W. of Middletown N/A Millersburg Millrsburg Ferry PA 147 at Market St. and N. St. in the Borough 1972 Paxtnag Paxtang Church At the church on Paxtang Avenue 1947 Paxtang Paxton Church Derry St. near Wilhelm Rd Reed Pennsylvania Canal (Eastern Division) US 22 and 322 S. of Clarks Ferry Bridge 1952 Susquehanna Fort Hunter N. Front St.,.5 miles N. of the Rockville Bridge at entrance to the Park 1947 Historic & Cultural Resources 2-6

7 Historic Districts Dauphin County is home to both local historic districts (Table 2-3) as well as historic districts that are listed on the National Register of Historic Places (Table 2-4). TABLE 2-3 LOCAL HISTORIC DISTRICTS Dauphin County Municipality Name of Building of Structure General Location Year Listed Historic District Area bound by Forester Street, 3 rd St., Shipoke and Susquehanna River 1979 Old Downtown District Area bound by Strawberry, Chestnut, 4 th and 3 rd Streets 1983 Midtown Historic District Area bound by Forester, 6 th, Verbeke Streets and Susquehanna River 1983 Allison Hill Historic District Area bound by Summit, Mulberry, Derry Streets and Sylvan Terrace 1985 Mount Pleasant Historic District Area bound by Market, 19 th, Cameron and Brookwood Streets 1990 Uptown Historic District Area bound by 2 nd, 3 rd, Maclay and Sayford Streets 1990 Susquehanna Fort Hunter Historic District N. Front St.,.5 miles N. of the Rockville Bridge 1979 TABLE 2-4 DAUPHIN HISTORIC DISTRICTS ON NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES Municipality Name of Historic District Acreage General Location Year Listed Halifax Clemson Island Prehistoric District 145 Clemson Island 1981 Susquehanna Fort Hunter Historic District 320 U.S Cemetery th & Liberty Streets 1985 Historic District 1,920 Forster, 3 rd, Hanna Streets and the Susquehanna River 1976 Military Post 280 Junction of 14 th & Calder Streets 1991 Midtown Historic District 430 Forster, Verbecke & 3 rd Streets and the Susquehanna River 1983 Mount Pleasant Historic District 550 Sylvan, 19 th, Market & Brookwood Streets 1985 Old Downtown commercial Historic District 118 Dewberry, Chestnut, blackberry & South 3 rd Streets 1963 Old Uptown Historic District 631 McClay, North 3 rd, Reily, North 2 nd & Calder Streets 1990 Middletown Henry Smith Farm Swatara Creek Road 1988 Hummelstown John Todd House 65 South Meadow Lane 1988 Source: National Register of Historic Places Fort Hunter Historic District Historic & Cultural Resources 2-7