by Christine Lorraine Morgan ~ August 6, 2024

This beautiful stone house located a short distance from the Lake Erie shoreline is almost two centuries old, and its rich history is something worth contemplating. Built in 1832, it has stood on its East Lake Road hilltop perch since the days when it was surrounded by pristine countryside and untouched terrain.

A LOOK AT THE PAST

The Crowley House in Erie County, PA is situated next to Fourmile Creek, which empties into Lake Erie. A tunnel was recently excavated that starts in the basement of this home and leads to the creek, which enabled slaves to reach the lake shore and head across the lake to Canada and freedom. Image capture August 5, 2024.

The land upon which the Crowley House sits was purchased as a 399-acre parcel in 1827 by Michael Crowley (see photo below), who had emigrated from Ireland to the U.S. with his brother Thomas Crowley Sr. several years prior.

Michael built the home, dubbed the Crowley Estate, five years later on what is now known as East Lake Road in Lawrence Park Township. The sturdy stone structure remained in the Crowley family’s possession until 1897.

“Evidence suggests that the home was a station on the Underground Railroad. A tunnel was recently excavated on the property that leads to Fourmile Creek and the shore of Lake Erie. Fugitive slaves would be taken to the shore, where a boat would take them safely to Canada,” according to http://www.eriebuildings.info/buildings.php?buildingID=29005009002800

It is important to note that access to the tunnel is not possible at the present time.

This is the stretch of Fourmile Creek that is visible from East Lake Road next to the Crowley House. Image capture August 5, 2024

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“X” marks where I stood when photographing the creek (to my right). “O” encircles the mailbox for the Crowley House to show proximity.

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It is presumed that Michael Crowley, 1818-1898 and Anna Bowes Crowley, 1829-1903 resided at the Crowley House before and during the Civil War and were responsible for helping slaves reach the Lake Erie shoreline, which was near their home. From the shoreline, Canada is about 23 miles to the north, which was then traversed by boat or by walking across the frozen lake’s surface.

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A LOOK AT THE PRESENT

Luckily, the current owners of this amazing historic home, Cathie and Mike Goodman, are very history-conscious and take care to preserve the home’s character and details. They were gracious enough to allow this author/photographer in for a brief interview and tour on August 5, 2024.

When asked why they opted to buy this particular historic property, Mike answered that they had been watching the property for awhile when it was on the market. “I kept showing Cathie that the price was dropping, and she pretty much said, ‘Stop showing me unless you want to seriously look at it.’ So we looked at it and we put an offer in,” explains Mike.

Cathie is from Erie, and Mike grew up in Lawrence Park and attended Iroquois High School. “I know this house because I’ve been by it many, many times,” said Mike. “And even though Cathie lived in the city she loved this house, so the timing was just right.”

“We love old houses, love to try to bring them back to what they might have looked like when they were first built,” Mike added. He also noted that they try to keep the historic character and charm while bringing the property up to modern-day living standards and regulations.

Here is an assortment of photographs that were taken on August 5 showing the Crowley House’s exterior and interior.

Beautiful fireplace – the original woodwork and molding throughout the Crowley house carries the same design.

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Original woodwork on doorway and window

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This front window presently overlooks busy East Lake Road where cars zoom by. In the 1800s it probably saw its share of horses and buggies trot past.

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The stones that this gorgeous home is built with probably came from the Lake Erie shore and banks of Fourmile Creek. Wherever they originated they certainly are sturdy.

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View of the west-facing side of the Crowley House.