North Hill Historic District (New Castle, Pennsylvania) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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North Hill Historic District
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Fairmont Avenue, North Hill Historic District
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 Location in Pennsylvania
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| Location | New Castle, Pennsylvania |
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| Area | 449.7 acres (182 ha) |
| Architectural style | 19th and 20th Century, Late Victorian, 19th Century Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 00000056 |
| Added to NRHP | February 18, 2000 |
The North Hill Historic District is a special neighborhood in New Castle, Pennsylvania. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1999. This area covers about 450 acres and has 91 city blocks. It is located just north of New Castle's main business area. The district is famous for its many beautiful old homes and mansions. Many of these buildings were built way back in the 1800s.
What Kind of Buildings Are Here?
The North Hill Historic District has many different kinds of buildings. There are 1,888 buildings in total. You can see styles from the late 1800s and early 1900s. These include Late Victorian and Revival styles.
One famous home was built in 1895 for Mathias Holstein Henderson. He was an important person in New Castle. He was the vice-president of Lawrence Saving and Trust, which is now National City Bank. Today, the Meehan family takes care of this home.
Another home, the Reis Home, was built for William Reis. He was a steel maker. This home was a two-story Colonial Revival style. It stayed in the Reis family until 1993. Later, it was taken down to make space for the new New Castle High School.
You can also find a concrete bridge on Boyles Avenue. People say it was built by the Works Progress Administration (WPA). The WPA was a government program that helped people find jobs during the Great Depression. The Scottish Rite Cathedral is also in this district.
Most homes in the district are made of brick or wood. They usually have many floors. While most buildings are single or multiple family homes, there are also a few shops and health care places. Four schools and four churches are part of the district too. The sidewalks in the area have looked the same since at least 1904. Many homes facing the downtown area are in Queen Anne, Folk Victorian, Neoclassical, and Colonial Revival styles.
Important Buildings to See
Many buildings in the North Hill Historic District are very important. Here are some of them:
- Greer Residence (built 1904–05), at 408 North Jefferson Street. It is now the Lawrence County Historical Society [1].
- Hoyt Residences. These are now part of Arts + Education at the Hoyt [2].
- Henderson Residence (built 1895). This is now the Meehan Funeral Home.
- Ohl Residence
- Scottish Rite Cathedral
- Trinity Episcopal Church
- Clen-Moore Presbyterian Church (built 1929), at 220 Clen-Moore Boulevard.
- George Washington Intermediate School (built 1928), at 101 East Euclid Avenue.
- Garfield Terrace (built 1897), at 417-421 East Garfield Avenue.
- Bower Residence (built 1886-1889), at 328 Highland Avenue.
- Johnson Residence (built 1901), at 318 Highland Avenue. It is now Signature Hill [3].
- Reis/Brown Residence (around 1885), at 312 Highland Avenue. This is now Highland House, Inc. [4].
Why Is This District Important?
The North Hill Historic District is very important for a few reasons. New homes were built here from 1870 to 1949. This means the area is old enough to be considered historic by the National Register.
It is important for its amazing architecture. The homes show many different styles from the past. It is also important because of the people who lived there. Many leaders of local industries, like steel, tin, and iron companies, made their homes in this neighborhood.
