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Engleton, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania facts for kids

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Engleton
Neighborhood of Harrisburg
The "Harrisburg" Mural is located within Engleton on Reily St
The "Harrisburg" Mural is located within Engleton on Reily St
Country  United States
State Pennsylvania
County Dauphin County
City Harrisburg
ZIP code
17102
Area code(s) 717 and 223

Engleton (also spelled Engletown) is a special part of the Midtown area in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. It was created with a focus on having many different kinds of buildings. This neighborhood is mostly found between 2nd Street (to the west), Kelker Street (to the north), 3rd Street (to the east), and Reily Street (to the south).

The homes here were built in the 1890s by a person named Benjamin H. Engle, who the area is named after. These houses show off styles like Queen Anne and Italianate architecture. To make the homes more appealing, their outside walls, called façades, were built with different colors and designs.

Engleton is also home to one important historical site. The Simon Cameron School is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's a place recognized for its historical importance.

Engleton's Early Days and Growth

How Engleton Started in the 1890s

In the 1890s, the city of Harrisburg was growing very quickly. Many people were moving there, and the city needed more places for them to live. A builder named Benjamin H. Engle saw this need. He had just become the owner of the Central Mill & Lumber Company in 1892.

Building a Unique Neighborhood

Benjamin H. Engle bought a large piece of land north of Reily Street. He wanted to build a new neighborhood there. He knew that people would be more interested if the houses looked different from each other. So, he decided to focus on having many different architectural styles.

Architectural Styles and Success

Melancthon S. Shotwell was the supervising architect for this project. He mixed different building materials, like brick and wood, to create unique homes. This was different from the usual flat-walled row houses that were common at the time. The neighborhood quickly became popular and successful even before the year 1900. Its success grew even more when a streetcar line was added along Third Street, making it easier for people to travel to and from Engleton.

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