Judge William Shaw Anderson House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Judge William Shaw Anderson House
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Roadside view of the Judge William Shaw Anderson House, located at 7171 Mahoning Avenue in Austintown Township, Mahoning County, Ohio, United States. Built in 1830, it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
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 Location in Ohio
Location in the United States
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| Location | 7171 Mahoning Ave., Austintown, Ohio |
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| Architect | William Strock |
| Architectural style | Federal and Classical Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 76001479 |
| Added to NRHP | 1976-03-17 |
The Judge William Shaw Anderson House is a historic building in Austintown, Ohio. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places on March 17, 1976. Many people also know it as the "Strock Stone House."
Contents
The Story of the Strock Stone House
The Judge William Shaw Anderson House has a long and interesting history. It was originally built as a home for a family.
Early Years: 1831 to 1890
The Strock Stone House was built in 1831. It was made from huge blocks of sandstone, some weighing as much as 750 pounds! These stones came from a place called Stony Ridge in Austintown.
Some old records say the house was built in 1830 by William McClure. However, the first family to live there was William Strock and his family. William Strock was a carpenter. In 1830, he bought a large piece of land and had the house built there.
A Stop on the Underground Railroad?
In 1851, William Strock sold the house to Francis Henry. Francis Henry was involved in a religious movement. It is believed that the Strock Stone House might have been a stop on the Underground Railroad. This was a secret network that helped enslaved people escape to freedom in Canada.
While this claim is not fully proven, there is some evidence. Austintown was known as part of the Underground Railroad's path in Ohio. William Strock's brother, John Henry Strock, was one of the first people in Mahoning County to speak out against slavery. Also, Francis Henry is listed as someone who helped on the Underground Railroad in Mahoning County. Some stories even say that enslaved people were hidden in a tunnel connecting the house basement to the barn.
The Anderson Family Takes Over
In 1863, Francis Henry sold the house to David Anderson. David Anderson was from Derry, Northern Ireland. He moved to America and eventually opened a general store in Austintown. He became a very wealthy man in the area.
David Anderson and his wife, Hannah, had four children. After Hannah passed away, David Anderson reportedly let the Strock Stone House fall into disrepair. He moved to another house nearby, and the stone house was even used to shelter animals for a time.
Later Years: 1890 to Today
In 1890, David Anderson's oldest son, William Shaw Anderson, took over the property. William Shaw Anderson was a well-known lawyer and judge in Youngstown. He first used the Strock Stone House as a summer home. It is said that he even hosted President William McKinley at the house!
William Shaw Anderson and his wife, Louise, had four children. Between 1912 and 1918, Anderson restored the house and made it much bigger. He added a sun porch, dining room, and more bedrooms. He also added central heat. At this time, the property also had many other buildings, like barns, a pump house, and an ice house.
The House Becomes a Museum
After William Shaw Anderson passed away in 1925, his children, Randall and Blanche, inherited the house. In 1929, they sold it to the Mahoning Valley Sanitary District (MVSD). The house was then used as the home for the Chief Engineer of the MVSD until 1985.
Today, the Austintown Historical Society takes care of the Strock Stone House. They get help from the Mahoning Valley Sanitary District. The Society has furnished the inside of the house with old rugs and furniture. Many items were donated by people from Austintown.
Inside the Strock Stone House Today
When you visit the Strock Stone House, you can see many interesting things from the past.
Unique Collections
In the basement, there is a collection of old washing machines. The parlor room has antique furniture, including an organ.
Bedrooms and Daily Life
One bedroom shows what a child's room might have looked like, with old games and clothes. Another room is set up as a lady's bedroom. It has antique clothes like a wedding dress, coats, and even bloomers. There's also a "Depression sheet" made from sugar sacks, showing how people reused items during tough times.
The man's bedroom has old male clothing, including a shirt with a removable collar. You can also see old travel items like a trunk from London and a wooden suitcase from Germany.
The fourth room is a quilting room. It has an antique quilt rack with a quilt being made, a treadle sewing machine, and old irons. The fifth bedroom is set up as an office. It has an antique printing press, old typewriters, and ledger books from local grocery stores from the early 1900s.
The Summer Kitchen
The back porch is set up like a summer kitchen. In the past, people often cooked here to keep the main house cool. It has an old enamel top table, a Hoosier cabinet, an old wood-fired stove, and antique dishes. You can also see pressure cookers and canning jars, which were used to preserve food.
The Strock Stone House is open for free guided tours on the first Sunday of every month from 1 PM to 4 PM. You can also make an appointment for other times.
