Introduce Me To Your Easton Home |
 |
In 1736, Thomas Penn, son of William Penn, and Beniamin Eastburn,
surveyor general, selected and surveyed the "Thousand Acre Tract" of
land at the confluence of the Delaware and Lehigh Rivers. In the
1750's Easton was born, at this sport the Indians called "Lechawitauk"
or "The Place at the Forks". The Great Square (now known as Centre
Square) was, and remains, a gathering place for residents and
travelers, in fact, on July 8, 1776, it was the site for one of only
three readings of the Declaration of Independence.
Historic homes:
Herman
Simon Mansion
Herman Simon, a wealthy silk manufacturer of the early 1900’s built
his mansion on North Third Street (now home to The Third Street
Alliance for Women & Children), The Simon mansion was designed by
noted Architect William Michler and is of a High Renaissance French
Chateau style. The exterior of the building is graced with Indian
limestone, granite base, and a red Vermont Slate roof with cooper
ornamentation. Elaborate carved woodwork and d' Ascenzo stained
glass grace the interior skylight and stairwell; an original Delft
Kitchen also remains. The mansion was built at a cost of $250,000.
Directly adjacent, Simon built a home for his daughter. Massive cast
iron gates remain, which once led to the formal gardens. Carved
images of Simon’s wife and daughter are still distinguishable on
pillars outside the mansion.
Jacob Nicholas House
In
1807, Jacob Nicholas, a Delaware River Boat Captain, built his home
at Fifth & Ferry Streets. Nicholas plied the riverboat on the
Delaware River, hauling goods from Philadelphia to Easton. The boat
sailed or drifted down the river to Philadelphia, then long wooden
poles were used for "poling" the boat back up the river to Easton.
The Nicholas house has been restored with most work completed in
1990. It is furnished with authentic furnishings provided by the
Northampton County Historical and Genealogical Society. The building
is one of the very few restored structures in the nation that
illustrate life at home for a typical working person or family.
|
Learn more about Easton, PA |
|
|
|
|
|