by Christine Lorraine Morgan, Aug. 8, 2023

The City of Erie, PA is rich with history dating back to the late 1700s when the Pennsylvania panhandle’s first settlers moved in. The original city limits only encompassed about one square mile, from the bay southward to 12th Street, east to Parade Street and west to Chestnut, with State Street as the dividing line down the middle.

With that in mind, the area of 26th and Peach known as Federal Hill was considered to be out-of-town.

These structures are presently located on the SE corner of 26th and Peach, the area historically known as “Federal Hill” in Erie, PA. Builders in the late 19th century had a penchant for creating unconventionally-shaped angled buildings. Image capture Aug. 8, 2022.

” ‘Federal Hill’ is the summit of the hill in South Erie, a name given to it by George Moore, on account of the large number of ‘Federals’ who resided there. It was quite a settlement as early as the war of 1812, and there were several public houses and stores located at that point. One of the hotels was the ‘American Eagle,’ from which it also came to be known as Eagle Village,” as explained  online at https://sites.rootsweb.com/~paerie/bates/bates3II.htm#:~:text=Federal%20Hill%20is%20the%20summit,stores%20located%20at%20that%20point.

This artist’s idyllic rendering of Erie as viewed from Federal Hill offers a glimpse into what the area of 26th and Peach might have looked like before the City of Erie expanded southward.

The historic website mentioned above also states, “The village was a great stopping place for travelers, being the terminus of the Waterford pike and Ridge road. It was long the voting place of Mill Creek Township, and fifty years ago a mile of woods lay between there and Erie. Among those who resided on “Federal Hill” were George Moore, Capt. John Justice, Ira Glazier, Dr. P. Faulkner, John Sweeney, Simeon Dunn, Dr. Plara Thayer and other well-known citizens.”

Another familiar structure which has sat at the top of Federal Hill for over 130 years is this historic schoolhouse, which has been repurposed to house local businesses. Hat tip to those entrepreneurs who have maintained this beautiful building over the decades. Image capture July 31, 2023

It was originally built as School No. 9 in the City of Erie, and when this eight-room schoolhouse first opened in 1891 it had 396 seats and was situated on a 165′ x 250′ lot. It was named Franklin School, and it’s still standing at 2617 Peach Street. It was constructed by S. Kirschner & Sons, and designed by Joseph Frank. 

This colorful building is located at the NE corner of 26th and Peach Sts. at the top of Federal Hill. If memory serves correctly, it operated as a hotel in recent history. Again, kudos to those who have maintained and preserved this historic structure.

Speaking of unusually-shaped older buildings, this one presently houses Federal Hill Smokehouse.