by Christine Lorraine Morgan

There are multiple Historic Districts in Erie, and one of them covers West 21st Street.

Not all of the homes from this HD are presented here, but there are enough places shown to catch the flavor of the neighborhood’s beautiful historic ambiance.

139 W. 21st Street ~ 1882 ~ Three-story brick with a full, pillared front porch. It was most likely built as a single-family residence during a time when scullery maids, cooks and stable hands were part of affluent peoples’ lifestyles.

“The West 21st Street Historic District contains 35 properties, 29 of which remain standing. The extant structures represent numerous architectural styles including Colonial Revival, Queen Anne, Romanesque, Victorian, Chateauesque, Tudor Revival and Italianate. All contributing structures within the historic district were erected between 1857 and 1939. While many of the residential buildings have been converted to family use, they continue to retain their original scale, materials, and detailing,” according to eriebuildings.info.

~All of the structures shown here are still standing~

247 W. 21st Street ~ Built in 1865 ~ When this two-story Italianate style home went up, the Civil War was just ending. Regarding the couple who first lived there, the wife may have worn one of those cumbersome hoop skirt dresses, the husband might have toted a gold chained pocket watch while wearing a top hat and a sweeping cape. The arches on the front porch convey a time gone by, as do the round-topped tall windows.

219 W. 21st Street ~ bult in 1917 ~ Notice the perfect curve in the front porch roof over the double doors. Then take a peek at the circle vent window in the attic, and the 2nd floor side porch. What a stunner, with touches of gingerbread in just the right spots.

231 W. 21st Street ~ Built in 1882 ~ Perfection in brick, this two-story Italianate features dazzling second floor windows accentuated with pillars on each side. The full family-minded front porch also has pillars and a sturdy stone foundation. When this home was constructed Erie was evolving into an industrial mecca, with factories and industries springing up across the city’s ever-growing horizon.

209 W. 21st Street ~ Built in 1882 ~ This breathtaking three-story turreted stone home was the residence of renowned Erie builder Henry Shenk. According to eriebuildings.info: “Henry Shenk worked his way upward from poor farmer boy to prominent contractor in Western Pennsylvania. He built his home at the southwest corner of Sassafras and West 21st Streets. The Henry Shenk Company was known for its attention to detail and for manufacturing all interior trim in its own shop. Shenk worked on a number of iconic buildings in western Pennsylvania: the first Central Carnegie Library in Schenley Park, Pittsburgh, the Erie County Courthouse, and the Renaissance Centre in Erie, built in 1892…The Henry Shenk home is of Romanesque architectural style, with Queen Anne flourishes. It is of large stone situated on a gently sloping lot.”

329 W. 21st Street ~ Built in 1892 ~ Two-story painted yellow brick with Corinthian columns and stone foundation. The double dormers on the 3rd floor and round-topped windows throughout really top off this amazing 134-year-old structure. This seems like Antebellum style architecture, but I could be wrong, feel free to correct me on this. Every time I see this place I feel like sipping lemonade on the veranda.

343 W. 21st Street ~ Built in 1872 ~ Two-story wood frame old-fashioned full front porch and 2nd floor side porch. Tall windows and old-style porch railing give this historic structure the full flavor of 19th century local architecture.

215-217 W. 21st Street ~ Built in 1882 ~ This old-style gingerbread house dazzles with its ornate details. Between its concrete block foundation and its gable roof, the widow adornments offer a delightful set of contrasting colors.

257 W. 21st Street ~ Built in 1884 ~ Gray and white wood frame with jut a touch of fish scale siding on the 3rd floor exterior where there are four ornate matching windows.

All images were captured on April 12, 2025