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Pearce House

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1843. 1142 Elk St.
  • Pearce House (Photograph by Matthew Aungst)

This, the oldest surviving house in Franklin, was built during the turnpike and canal era by Edward Pearce, a prosperous wheelwright, wagon maker, and innkeeper. The five-bay stone house has an ell to the northeast and is larger than usual to accommodate the needs of the inn. Rubble stone on the rear elevation retains marks that indicate a porch once stood here, overlooking the confluence of French Creek and the Allegheny River. The exquisite entrance, topped by a fanlight and set off with a ribbed reveal rather than a pediment, distinguishes the house. Two square-topped columns with rosette capitals guard the door. The stones on the facade are scabble and drafted with narrow edgings, contrasting beautifully with the smoothness of the columns.

Writing Credits

Author: 
Lu Donnelly et al.
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Data

What's Nearby

Galena-Signal Oil Company Headquarters
Venango County Courthouse
Venango County Jail
Franklin Residential District
Franklin Public Library (Judge John S. McCalmont House)

Citation

Lu Donnelly et al., "Pearce House", [Franklin, Pennsylvania], SAH Archipedia, eds. Gabrielle Esperdy and Karen Kingsley, Charlottesville: UVaP, 2012—, http://sah-archipedia.org/buildings/PA-01-VE6.

Print Source

Cover: Buildings of PA vol 1

Buildings of Pennsylvania: Pittsburgh and Western Pennsylvania, Lu Donnelly, H. David Brumble IV, and Franklin Toker. Charlottesville: University of Virginia Press, 2010, 526-526.

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