by Christine Lorraine Morgan ~ January 5, 2026

Take a Photo Tour of Strong Mansion, 6th and Peach ~ 1896

This breathtaking 46-room castle-esque structure nestled at the SW corner of 6th and Peach took eight years to build at a cost of $480,000. Interestingly, over $800,000 was spent furnishing the place back then, which is substantially more than it cost to build.

It was constructed as a single-family residence by William L. Scott so that he could give it to his daughter Annie Wainwright and her arranged-marriage husband, Charles Hamot Strong, of Erie’s noted Strong family.

Annie and Charles employed 40 to 50 servants to keep their huge home operating efficiently, making it sort of like Erie’s downtown version of Downton Abbey.

Not only is it alluring to look at, this sprawling mansion is riddled with interesting folklore.

“A footman for the Strong family fell in love with one of the maids, but when the Strong’s found out about the romance, the footman was fired,” according to gannonknight.com.

“Upon losing his job and his love, the footman took his own life. Now, that footman is rumored to haunt Gannon as a spirit named George. Students have reported the lingering smell of cigars, flickering lights, and slamming doors, all attributed to the ghost of the Strong’s footman.”

As stated at eriebuildings.info: “The Strong family lived lavishly in their home on the edge of ‘Millionaire’s Row.’ They had forty to fifty servants, which enabled them to throw extravagant parties and entertain guests such as Presidents William Taft and Grover Cleveland. The Strong Mansion was undoubtedly (the) social hub in the heart of downtown Erie.”

The official address is listed as 128 W. 7th in Erie County Property records, but the property sits on the SW corner of 6th and Peach streets.

~Still Standing~

Images were captured April 4, 2025

Parlor/Gold Room ~ Painted in 14K gold leaf

Decadent gold fireplace

14K Gold Leaf Ceiling, doors and trim

Golden Doorway

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The Ballroom

Cherubs on the ceiling, domed bay window, floor-to-ceiling fireplace

Stunning mirrored fireplace with elaborately carved mantel

Photographer at work

Every corner is decadently detailed

Carved Pillar

A window seat fit for royalty, or perhaps U. S. Presidents ~ Presidents William Taft and Grover Cleveland visited Strong Mansion in its heyday.

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Exterior Views~6th and Peach in Erie, PA

Strong Mansion/Gannon University boasts some impressive brick work, with intricate designs that showed skilled craftsmanship. This level of excellence was predominant on West 6th Street and other parts of Erie near downtown where affluent citizens were building homes.

Imposingly beautiful four-story building on the SW corner of W. 6th and Peach Streets, built in 1896

Gorgeous balcony facing 6th Street. It is rumored that Mrs. Annie Strong sometimes “conversed” with her across-the-street neighbor, Mrs. Reed, from this balcony.

The spacious porch was designed to offer a cool spot on warm days.

Now that’s a window

Stellar brick work

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Inside Strong Mansion/Gannon

Fancy Ceiling

Tapestries in the ornate fireplace mantels were changeable.

The images of Charles and Annie Strong are carved into the mantel top in this room where they took their meals.

Food is carved into the woodwork here in the room where the Strongs dined.

Intricate Ceiling and Woodwork

3rd Floor ~ Where the servants slept

Stunning woodwork, staircase, balustrade and windows

Gannon connected the Strongs’ carriage house to the interior of the main mansion structure.

This portrait of Annie Strong still hangs inside of Strong Mansion/Gannon University’s Old Main Building

Ceiling inside turret

2nd floor former bedroom

These light switches are hidden behind a wall panel ~ the building’s current occupants said it took them awhile to find this set of controls.

Light switches from yesteryear

This amazing structure is ornate right down to its detailed door hinges

This bathroom on the second floor of the mansion was comprised of three separate rooms.

Servants’ Call System – Notice the various parts of the house listed

Clock and bell above the servants’ call system

2nd floor hallway ~ This floor was where the Strongs’ individual sleeping quarters were located

Beautiful wood balustrades

First Floor

This unique gas lamp sat outside of the Strongs’ home until electric lights were installed.

The original mosaic is still in the floor where it was 130 years ago.