Abbeville (Lancaster, Pennsylvania) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Abbeville
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 Location in Pennsylvania
Location in the United States
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| Location | 1140 Columbia Ave., Lancaster Township, Pennsylvania |
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| Area | 5 acres (2.0 ha) |
| Built | 1755–1756, 1790, 1826 |
| Architectural style | Georgian |
| NRHP reference No. | 78002414 |
| Added to NRHP | December 14, 1978 |
Abbeville, also known as Mt. Pleasant, is a very old and important house. It is located at 1140 Columbia Avenue in Lancaster Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. This historic home was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978. This means it is a special building worth protecting because of its history.
Contents
The Story of Abbeville
Early Beginnings and First Buildings
The land where Abbeville stands today has a long history. In 1717, William Penn, who founded Pennsylvania, gave a large piece of land (1,000 acres) to Hans Brubaker and Christian Hershey. This land was near the Little Conestoga Creek.
The first house on this property was built between 1755 and 1756. It was made of stone and covered with a plaster-like material called stucco. This first part of the house was quite small, about 20 feet by 17 feet. You could still see its original ceilings and fireplace when the house was listed as historic in 1978.
Growing Bigger: The Georgian Style Addition
In 1790, a man named John Stoner owned the house. He was a successful miller, which means he ran a mill that ground grain. John Stoner decided to make the house much larger. He added a big, new section in front of the older part.
This new part was built in the Georgian style. This style was popular in the 1700s and 1800s. It often featured balanced and grand designs.
New Owners and a Famous Connection
Around 1825, William Coleman bought the house and property. He was an important businessman who worked with iron. His daughter, Ann Caroline Coleman, was once engaged to James Buchanan. Buchanan later became a U.S. President!
Around the same time, a smokehouse was added to the property. A smokehouse was used to preserve meat. This building is still part of the historic property today.
In 1826, the house was sold again. The new owner was Langdon Cheves. He was a very important person in American politics. He served as the ninth Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives. This means he was the leader of the U.S. House of Representatives from 1814 to 1815.
Cheves added two more sections to the sides of the 1790 part of the house. He also gave the property its new name, "Abbeville." He named it after his hometown, Abbeville, South Carolina.
From Home to School: The Abbeville Institute
Around 1830, Langdon Cheves moved back to South Carolina. William Coleman bought the property back. In 1835, the house became the Abbeville Institute. This was a special school for boys.
The school was inspired by the ideas of Dr. William Augustus Muhlenberg. He was a leader in creating church schools in America. Even though Muhlenberg left Lancaster in 1826, his ideas helped start this important school.
Later Owners and Continued History
In 1851, a businessman named Christopher Hager bought the school and land. He owned Hager's department store. He also helped build the famous Fulton Opera House.
Around 1875, a stable and a carriage house were built on the property. These buildings were used for horses and carriages. They are also considered important historic structures today.
In 1926, C. Dudley Armstrong bought Abbeville. He was a vice president at Armstrong World Industries, a big company. The house stayed in the Armstrong family for many years.
Later, Dr. John Farmer and his wife owned Abbeville. They were the ones who officially asked for the house to be listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This happened on February 17, 1978. The house was officially added to the list later that same year.
In 1995, Robert and Ruth Ecklin bought Abbeville. The house continues to be a private home with a rich history.
