Ephrata Commercial Historic District facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Ephrata Commercial Historic District
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Ephrata National Bank, November 2011
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 Location in Pennsylvania
Location in the United States
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| Location | Portions of W. Main, E. Main, N. State, S. State Sts., and Washington Ave., Ephrata, Pennsylvania |
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| Area | 15.3 acres (6.2 ha) |
| Architect | Urban, C. Emlen; Evans, Clifton |
| Architectural style | Queen Anne, Italianate |
| NRHP reference No. | 06001005 |
| Added to NRHP | November 8, 2006 |
The Ephrata Commercial Historic District is a special area in Ephrata, Pennsylvania, located in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. It's like a time capsule, showing how the town looked and worked many years ago. This district is important because it has 36 old buildings that tell stories about Ephrata's past. These buildings were added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2006, which means they are officially recognized as historically important.
What Makes This District Special?
This historic district covers about 15.3 acres. It includes many buildings in the main business area of Ephrata. These buildings show off two cool architectural styles:
- Queen Anne Style: This style often features towers, turrets, and decorative details.
- Italianate Style: Buildings in this style might have tall, narrow windows and wide overhanging roofs.
Some of the buildings were designed by a famous architect named C. Emlen Urban. He was known for his work in Lancaster County.
Oldest Buildings and Notable Spots
The oldest building in the district is the Eagle Hotel, which dates all the way back to 1808. Imagine how much history that building has seen!
Other interesting buildings you can find in the district include:
- The I.G. Sprecher & Sons Hardware store (built in 1911).
- The Richard Heitler House (from 1820).
- The J.W. Yost Liquor Store (around 1880).
- The Ephrata Railroad Station (built between 1887 and 1889).
- The U.S. Post Office (from 1937).
- The Ephrata National Bank (built in 1925).
- The Grant and Wenger Feed Mill (from 1924).
You'll also find the Mentzer Building within this district. It's so important that it's listed separately on the National Register of Historic Places!
