Historic Name

Charles M. Reed Mansion

Address

524 Peach Street

Municipality

City of Erie

Tax Parcel

17040005010000

Historic District

West 6th Street HD

Classification

Class 1 (Definitions of Classes)

State Key Number

857

Historic Function

Social - meeting hall

Style

Classical Revival

Built

1849

Architect

Builder

Barn Type on property

Last Entry Update

7/6/2016

The Charles Manning Reed Mansion rests at the intersection of Peach and Sixth Street, near the east entrance to Erie’s West 6th Street National Historic District. The first generation of Reeds settled in the area in 1795 when Colonel Seth Reed opened a trading post, saw mill, and inn at Fort Presque Isle. His son, Rufus Seth Reed, was a prominent member of the Erie community, owning extensive property and partaking in multiple business ventures. Rufus’ son, Charles M. Reed, born in 1803, was an enterprising industrialist in the Erie area that continued his family’s legacy. Throughout his lifetime, Charles Reed was most notably a Brigadier General with the Pennsylvania Militia, president of the Erie and Pittsburgh Railroad, vice-president of the First National Bank of Erie, as well as the owner of the Reed shipyard and steamship line and the Reed Hotel. By 1846, Reed had accumulated enough wealth to begin building this Gothic Revival mansion for his bride.

Charles Reed went to great lengths to create an elaborate and suitable home for his family. He hired renowned Buffalo architect Edward B. White to design the structure, Erie brothers James and William Hoskinson to build it, and the head carpenter of his shipyard, E.F. Barger, to design the interior woodwork. Ground was broken in May 1846, but construction was delayed for nearly two years due to Reed’s perfectionism and the time constraints of his workers. It was officially completed in 1849, and Reed lived in the mansion until his death in 1871. His widow continued to reside there until her death in 1901. The Erie Club subsequently purchased the property in 1904 and retains its ownership well over a century later. In 1982 the building —along with the rest of the district—was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Sources: Charles M. Reed Mansion Nomination

Charles M. Reed Mansion National Register nomination

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Photo courtesy, Erie County Assessment Office