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| Lower North
Hill Tour |
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A two and one-half story square plan, patterned
masonry Queen Anne residence has many fine architectural features
- a three story tower with conical roof in the east bay, a
two story bay window with conical roof at the west side and
brick cladding with decorative rough cut stonecourses, quoins
and window surrounds. It also has distinctive red tile rooting
and tall interior chimneys with patterned masonry. |
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The
residence was built in 1895 for Mathias Holstein Henderson
(1845-1908) a prominent New Castle resident who served as
the vice-president of the Lawrence Savings and Trust Bank
(now National City). Mrs. Henderson was the daughter of John
Bower, a local tailor whose home is also on the tour. The
home is lovingly maintained by the Meehan family. |
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THE
CATHEDRAL
110-120
EAST LINCOLN |
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is difficult to describe the cathedral in a few paragraphs.
It is a neoclassical rectangular plan multi-purpose lodge
hall. It is 245 feet wide, 181 feet deep and 110 feet high
in the rear. East and west wings each 47 feet by 181 feet.
It is running bond brick cladding over "fireproof' (concrete)
construction. The foundations consist of 916 concrete piles,
20 to 28 feet long. The main façade (north) is two stories
and nine bays wide. It has two-light windows in freize, the
architrave with "Scottish Rite Cathedral" and monumental
engaged stone Ionic columns. The South façade is high, visible
and a major visual resource.
The interior contains a ballroom, banquet room and theater,
as well as Masons' lodge rooms and various smaller chambers.
The theater seating capacity is 3,240, consisting of the main
floor and two balconies. The stage is 80 feet wide and 45
feet 6 inches deep. The Scottish Rite Cathedral was constructed
in 1924-1925 for the FreeMasons Lodge #433. It was designed
by R. G. Schmid Co. of Chicago; S, W. Siesel Company of Milwaukee
and Pittsburgh was the building contractors. Paul Mueller
of New Castle landscaped the grounds. Construction investments
totaled approximately $1,750,000. Note the perfect positioning
of the building on the crest of the hill. |
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THE
GEORGE JOHNSON HOUSE
318
HIGHLAND AVENUE |
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two and one-half story square plan Colonial Revival residence
has a coursed limestone foundation, running bond brick walls,
hip roof with north-south main ridge, and tall interior end
chimneys with corbelled caps. It has symmetrical bowed bays,
prominent, classically inspired roof dormers with open pediments,
Ionic pilaster and decorative round top windows. There is
a central stained glass window at the second floor with stained
glass circular windows to each side.
The
home was built for George W. Johnson (1847-1919) in 1901.
Johnson was a leading local industrialist involved in limestone,
iron and bronze production. He was principal owner of the
American Car and Ship Hardware Company in 1901, which he later
purchased and renamed Johnson Bronze. The home was designed
by local architect Harry W. Wirsing. It now the home of the
law offices of Angelo Papa. |
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THE
BILLY PATTERSON HOUSE
315
NORTH MERCER
This
two and one-half story, square plan Second Empire residence has
common bond brick walls and mansard roof. It has central, double
decorative wood panel doors with transom. Note the Italianate style
brackets. The porch wraps to the ease side, with paired posts with
decorative brackets.
The
residence was built prior to 1886 for industrialist William Patterson
(18241905). Patterson was instrumental in developing the area's
coal fields and was the leading organizer of the Aetna Iron Company
in 1868. In partnership with A. L. Crawford, he founded the Crawford
Iron and Steel Company. He also founded the New Castle Nail Company
which was later assumed by Shenango Iron Works and then U. S. Steel.
He organized the Beaver Valley Railroad and the Pennsylvania Engineering
Works. In addition to his industrial activities, Patterson established
the Patterson Bank and was instrumental in founding New Castle's
first hospital (The Shenango Valley, (located on N. Beaver Street).
It was recently purchased by the law firm, Luxenberg, Garbett, Kelly
& Sapienza.
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charming two and one-half story rectangular plan frame Queen
Anne at the comer of Stewart Place and Highland Avenue has
a coursed limestone foundation, hip roof with lower cross
gables, and exterior end brick chimney with decorative panels.
A turret is located in the south bay with a conical slate
roof and a small elaborate spindle balcony in the North Bay.
There is a veranda with spindle work, open balustrade and
frieze.
This
residence was built for industrialist William Reis. Many members
of the Reis family lived in the house including politician
William M. Brown (1850-1915) Brown served as Special Agent
of the U. S. Land Office Department, as Pennsylvania Senator
from the 47"' district and in 1902 he was elected Lt.
Governor of the Commonwealth. 'File house also became the
home of Louis T. and Rosena Reis Kurtz during their brief
marriage. It later became the home of the W. H. Shipler family
of Pennsylvania Engineering. It is now being used as a half-way
house. |
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JOHN
BOWER HOUSE
328
HIGHLAND AVENUE |
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two and one-half story square plan Second Empire residence
has a rubble limestone foundation and running bond brick walls.
The Mansard roof has slate shingles with paired brackets under
the eaves. It has a shed roof porch with pediment over entry,
square posts, brackets and spindle work open balustrade and
frieze.
This
home was built for John Bower (1821-1906) between 1886-1889.
Mr. Bower was a local merchant and
tailor. It was one of the first large homes built onthe North
Hill. This building suffered a fire several years ago.
It is now owned by attorney Angelo Papa. |
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THE
RANEY JAMESON CASTLE
330
NORTH JEFFERSON
The Raney-Jameson castle is a two and
one-half story, square Queen Anne residence. It is of coursed, rock
faced limestone construction with a limestone foundation. The main
architectural points are the round tower in the south bay with conical
roof, the square turret and the main gable wood with decorative
patterns.
The home was built approximately 1892
for the Leander Raney family. Local architect, S. W. Foulke, who
also designed the First Presbyterian Church among other buildings
in the city, designed it. Mr. Raney, a local industrialist and community
leader was affiliated with the Raney & Burger Iron Works and
Raney Milling Company. He is the grandfather of Howard Kirk of Kirk
Hutton Hardware. In 1907 David Jameson (1856-1927) one of the founders
of Citizens Bank. It was through Mr. Jameson's philanthropy the
Jameson Memorial Hospital was established. The Jameson family occupied
the home until 1941. It has served as a nurses home for the hospital
from 1941-1963, a dormitory for the New Castle Business College,
and has been a personal care home. It was badly damaged by a fire
in May, 1998. It is being restored by Tom George & Associates,
but it was not possible to replace the original slate roof.
THE
HOWE-CRAIG HOUSE
214
EAST LINCOLN
This two and one-half story square plan
Colonial Revival residence has a raised, coursed limestone foundation,
running bond brick walls, a hip roof with east-west ridge, and tall,
interior end brick chimneys. The main facade (north) is three bays
wide. It has prominent roof dormers. Classically inspired with open
pediments, pilasters and central sunburst motif. There is regular
fenestration of Queen Anne decorative windows, a central bay window
at the second floor and tripartite window with decorative transom
at first floor. Note the Porte cochere to the west side.
This home was built in 1897 for Robert
C. Howe, bookkeeper for the New Castle Wire Nail Company. In 1925,
the home was sold to Percy Craig, Vice-president of Lawrence Savings
and Trust Bank.
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These
beautiful homes will be added shortly. Additionally, a Downtown
New Castle walking tour is under construction. |
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[Industrial
History] [Downtown
Walking Tour] |
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