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   John Hill House

PROPERTY INFORMATION

Historic Name

John Hill House

Address

230 W 6 St

Municipality

City of Erie

Tax Parcel

17040008013400

Historic District

West 6th Street HD

Classification

Class 1 (Definitions of Classes)

State Key Number

854

Historic Function

Domestic - single dwelling

Style

Italianate

Built

1825

Architect

Builder

Barn Type on property

 

Last Entry Update

8/8/2016


HISTORY

Dr. William Johns, a prominent physician and political official, built this structure in 1836. Pierre Simon Vincent Hamot, a merchant banker and pioneer in Erie’s early development, bought the home for his daughter and her husband in 1840. In 1854, John Hill, a carpenter by trade who became a leading architect and building contractor, purchased the home—giving the building its historic name. Several of the grand commercial buildings on Erie’s North Park Row were designed and constructed by Mr. Hill. After he purchased this home in 1888, Hill began extensive renovations, adding Italianate details to the Greek Revival style home.

The home was then purchased by George Selden in 1888. Selden, a giant in Erie’s booming iron industry, had made his fortune in the Erie City Iron Works. He bought the home for his nieces, who made the home a social center of the West 6th street area. During their ownership, the house was extended to the north to accommodate a larger domestic staff. Due to its location on Erie’s “Millionaire’s Row,” Selden’s nieces went to great lengths to attract the city’s most affluent members into their home. The Selden family remained in the home until 1921, and has been purchased by a succession of owners over the last century. The John Hill House was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979, and has been well-maintained. In 2016, the home has been renovated to accommodate offices for local professionals. The home stands as a reminder of Erie’s industrial boom and the prominent families who subsequently prospered.

Sources: Frew, David, et al. Journey Through Time. Erie County Historical Society, 2006.


DESCRIPTION


LINKS AND ATTACHMENTS

John Hill House National Register nomination


UPDATE

If you have additional information or corrections to the existing information, send an email to info@preservationerie.org.
Submitted information is reviewed by Preservation Erie prior to updating the database.


CURRENT ASSESSMENT PHOTO


Photo courtesy, Erie County Assessment Office


PHOTO FROM 2014 SURVEY

HISTORIC PHOTOGRAPHS

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