Florence Crittenton Home on Holland Street

This neat old brick house was constructed around 1842 and was the home of James M. Sterrett. James owned a tannery on East 5th Street between Holland and German. He died ten years later and his descendants lived in the home until the end of the century. His granddaughter willed the house to the Florence Crittenton Home. 

"The Florence Crittenton Home... for unmarried mothers... was established in 1896 by the Y.W.C.A. as the 'Door of Hope' at 325 West 23rd St., and moved 501 Holland Street on June 7, 1908…Three hundred girls, alumni of the Home, who are now mothers of families, respected by their friends and neighbors, are leading moral, healthful lives…The Home always insists that the patient keep her child, because the first concern is always the welfare of the child…

Since its incorporation, 472 girls and their babies have been cared for. The Home can care for twelve girls and ten babies…Were it not for the Florence Crittenton Home, the girls, instead of receiving proper medical attention and necessary instruction and training which enables them to start life anew, would suffer, bear the shame of publicity and be branded as social outcasts. With such handicaps they would not be able to start out in life with a fair opportunity to succeed. The guilty fathers would not be induced to accept their responsibilities at home and parents and relatives, humiliated by the conduct of the girls, would not be brought to see their duties in a true light. The girls themselves would not learn to become strong again and care for their children and home." -Albion News, February 23, 1922.

The Florence Crittenton Home remained in the old Sterrett Home from 1905 until 1982, when it moved to East 6th St. near Reed. The Sterrett house on the southeast corner of 5th and Holland was demolished around that time and is now a parking lot for Erie Insurance.

Enjoy more historic facts and photos of Erie, Pennsylvania at: Old Time Erie

Location of the Reed Hotel

I'm sure you've seen postcards of places that used to exist and wondered, "Where was that?" Me too. So I thought it would be fun to put together a graphic to show you where the old Reed Hotel was located. Keep in mind that this is not to scale, just a representation of what the corner of French Street and North Park Row used to look like. The new picture of Erie Insurance on the right was taken in 2013.

Click here for a more detailed narrative of the Reed House hotel in Perry Square. The spot where the hotel used to sit is now a parking lot for Erie Insurance. Keep this image in mind the next time you visit the park. Just stand near the Edison electric fountain and look north.

Enjoy more fun facts about the history of Erie, Pennsylvania at: Old Time Erie

Tour Top Historic Sites in Downtown Erie

Charles M. Tibbals lived in this Greek Revival home at 146 East 5th Street more than 170 years ago. Tibbals was the founder of the Chicago & Erie Stove Company, which manufactured the "Invincible," an award-winning, ornate coal burning stove that heated many a parlor throughout the United States. This red brick house is a testament to his wealth and keen attention to detail.

Did you miss your chance to tour this beautiful home, and nine other nearby properties, this Thursday, Sept. 26th? The Erie County Historical Society coordinated this self-guided tour, which included sites owned by Erie Insurance. Many of the buildings pre-date the Civil War. Tickets are $10 each.

Ten sites on State and French Streets, from 3rd to 6th Street, were included on the itinerary. They included the Cashier's House and Erie History Center, Chandlery Corner (4th and State), the Dickson Tavern (2nd and French), Pierre S. V. Hamot House (3rd and French), Sullivan's Pub, O'Donnell House (4th and French), St. Patrick Catholic Church (130 E. 4th), the H. O. Hirt Building (East 6th) and the F. W. Hirt Building on the corner of 6th and French. On street parking is generally free after 6 p.m. downtown.

(On a side note, I almost called this post "The Trouble With Tibbals" but I wasn't sure how many of you were Star Trek fans and watched the episode about tribbles.)

Enjoy more fun and fascinating facts about Erie, Pennsylvania at: Old Time Erie

Old Erie Achievement Center Bldg

This cool brick building on the southeast corner of 6th and French St. has had three major tenants since it was built in 1914; the Achievement Center, Erie Insurance and the C.F. Adams Company. 

Charles F. Adams, the original owner, had a popular household goods store and had offices here. "This building was undoubtedly designed by an architect who was familiar with Tudor Gothic and Romanesque styles of architecture in their various expressions. At least the influence of these styles are clearly shown in this handsome building, showing a fine red tile roof and carefully laid walls. Much neatness is displayed in the surroundings and setting of small shrubs." In 1914, Charles was the president of the company (he died in 1923 and was buried in the Erie Cemetery). Louis T. M. Slocum was 1st vice-president; William Brown was 2nd VP; Harry L. Smith was secretary; Burr Lathrop was treasurer and J. A. Slocum was a traveling auditor.

Erie Insurance moved into this building at 101 East 6th Street in 1938. It was their home in Erie, PA until they needed more office space. Erie Insurance moved into its current headquarters across the street in 1956.

The Achievement Center occupied this site from 1956 until 2013. The building has a lot of character. It is across the street from Perry Square and the old Erie Public Library building.

You can donate to the Achievement Center by clicking here

Learn more about Erie, Pennsylvania at: Old Time Erie

Bob Contich Volkswagen East 5th Street

Bob Contich Motors Inc. was located at 117 East 5th Street, near French Street. The dealership sold Volkswagen automobiles. There is a white VW sitting in front of the showroom. When we were kids we used to punch each other in the arm whenever we saw a VW, which seemed to be quite often. This was a fun game we used to play when we went on a long trip, second only to poking each other and counting the number of different states we would see on license plates.

The Contich building was torn down and the site is now occupied by Erie Insurance.

Volkswagen had a television commercial in the nineties with the slogan 'Fahrvergnugen...Driving Excitement (or something like that). No matter what the literal meaning, it's a fun word to say out loud.

Enjoy more historic Erie, PA facts and photos at: oldtimeerie.blogspot.com

Crazy Horse Saloon 6th and French Erie PA

Crazy Horse Saloon photo by Chester Wasielewski. ©2012 Debbi Lyon.

The Crazy Horse Saloon sat on the northeast corner of E. 6th and French Street in Erie, PA. According to Tom Weber, "The building with the white columns...was once known as the P.A. Becker Building. At the time of its demolition in the 1980s, it was known as the Crazy Horse Saloon. Four of the iron pillars were preserved and stand in front of the Erie Insurance headquarters at E. 6th and French."

You could the Crazy Horse Saloon as you left the old Public Library at Perry Square. Erie Insurance currently occupies this corner.

French Street from 5th to 6th before Erie Insurance

East side of French St. between 5th and 6th. Photo by Chester Wasielewski. ©Debbi Lyon 2012.

1880 view of French Street.

This photo of Downtown Erie starts about a quarter of a block up from East 5th and French Street and continues south to East 6th St. These buildings were demolished years ago and Erie Insurance currently occupies this site. The three-story building to the right of Buyer's Fair in the top photo can be seen in the small photo from 1880 on the right, when the building was painted white or yellow.

The space on the far left of the photo was employee parking for a downtown business. The D. C. Sullivan Co. (wholesale novelties) is the first building on the left, at 511 French Street in Erie, PA. The second building, at 515 French, was Buyers Fair, owned by the late Jack Lectner. The Perry Square Cafe (owned by George and Andrew Markopoulis) was located at 523 French St. There was a tavern at 531 French, on the corner of 6th and French.

The posts from the building on the far right were salvaged and still stand near the corner of 6th and French.

Enjoy more fun facts about the history of Erie, Pennsylvania at: Old Time Erie

Ellsworth House State Street now Richford Arms Erie PA

Ellsworth House at State and North Park Row in Erie, Pennsylvania circa 1880.

The Ellsworth House is the five-story building on the left that used to stand on the northeast corner of State and North Park Row. According to Ed Wellejus, this building was constructed in 1851 and was torn down in 1891. It was known as Brown's Hotel until about 1869. Guests of the Ellsworth hotel had a great view of the park at Perry Square.

The left side of the building shown above faced State Street. The old Reed Hotel, which anchored the block at the corner at North Park Row and French Street, is now a parking lot.  None of the buildings in this picture exist today. The stretch of buildings on the right side of the photo (on French Street) were torn down to build Erie Insurance.

The Ford Hotel, now known as Richford Arms, occupies this Erie spot at 515 State Street. The Ford Hotel opened in 1928. You can see a picture and read about it here: http://oldtimeerie.blogspot.com/2012/09/ford-hotel-now-richford-arms-on-state.html