Schaeffer House facts for kids
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Schaeffer House
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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Schaeffer House, November 2011
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 Location in Pennsylvania
Location in the United States
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| Location | 213 S. Carpenter St., Schaefferstown, Heidelberg Township, Pennsylvania |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | c. 1736, c. 1771 |
| Architectural style | Colonial, Germanic |
| Part of | Brendle Farms (ID72001130) |
| NRHP reference No. | 11000630 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | July 25, 2011 |
| Designated CP | July 24, 1972 |
The Alexander Schaeffer House is a special old house in Schaefferstown, Pennsylvania. It was built around 1736 and made bigger in 1771. This house is a rare example of a colonial German-style Weinbauernhouse. This German word means "winemaker's house." It was designed so people could live there and also make products to sell, all in one building.
Today, you can visit the house as a historic house museum. It is located on the Brendle Farms property. You can take tours of the house by making an appointment. Because of its important history, the house was named a National Historic Landmark in 2011.
About the Schaeffer House
The Alexander Schaeffer House is part of a farm area that covers about 90 acres (36 hectares). It is located on the south side of Schaefferstown. The main road to the house leads west from South Carpenter Street.
How the House Was Built
The oldest part of the house is two and a half stories tall. It was built using rough limestone rocks held together with a special kind of cement called lime mortar. The house sits on a hill, which means you can enter it from the ground floor and also from the second floor.
The windows are not placed in a regular pattern. The many entrances were used for different purposes. The ground floor originally had dirt floors. This area was used as a workspace even when the house was new. The upper level had three rooms for living: a kitchen, a sitting room, and a bedroom. Inside, the house still has wide wooden floors, doors, and hardware from the 1700s. It is not fully known if these parts are from the very first building or from later changes.
Alexander Schaeffer's Changes
The first part of the house was built around 1738. In 1771, Alexander Schaeffer made some big changes. He bought the property in 1758, and the town of Schaefferstown is named after him.
He added a two-story section to the building. This new part was built with the same kinds of materials as the original house. The ground floor of the original section had a special arched storage space built into it. The upper floor of the new addition had a large kitchen. This kitchen was set up for making goods. The fireplace in the original kitchen was also changed to help with this process. Alexander Schaeffer likely bought this property to make products for a tavern he owned on the main road in town.
See also
