Hidden Architectural Treasure

I returned to Pennsylvania this year mid-July. My children couldn't be convinced to join me in the Midwest, so I accepted a job, packed my bags and headed home. The primary focus was to get settled at the job and my temporary home.  After that househunting ensued. Being on my own for the time being, I am able to look at any old property that tickles my fancy. I prefer decrepit historic properties, my husband likes shiny clean suburban homes.  How ever do we get along?!?

Here's what I found.


Photo Courtesy of Trulia

The ad states the house was built in 1725. I promptly set an appointment to view the property.  It needs work as is clearly stated on the MLS listing. 

There is no evidence that neither a kitchen or bathroom were ever installed the main house. The only holes in the remaining random width wood floor indicate that a stove was used for heat instead of a fireplace. 

Holes for Stovepipes: THS Photo


It's possible that the cellar, attic and front doors are original to the house as suggested by the multiple layers of paint and period hardware.



Cellar Door: THS Photo

Shadow of Original Hardware on Attic Door: THS Photo

Also the many small panes of glass in the front door suggest it is true to the period.  The technology was not yet available to manufacture large glass panes.

Front Door: THS Photo


The stairway's balusters and newel posts are simple square shapes. The newel post is a much simpler version of one at Wright's Ferry Mansion. This similarity of shape could help date the house to the same period. See The Magazine Antiques, May/June 2012 page 44.

Main House Stairway: THS Photo

And here is a wallpaper remnant left in situ. It would take some research to discover it's age.



Wallpaper remnant...original? THS Photo



On to the summer kitchen.  It is situated to the left of the main house (See first Photo) and is in much better shape than the main house. The roof was successfully repaired at one time.  I see plywood under the eaves and believe wood shingles would have been original.

 Window in Loft of Summer Kitchen - THS Photo

In the closed loft a few balusters and a newel post are at the top of the stairs.

Newel Post on Loft Floor:  THS Photo

This newel on top of the post was crafted in the shape of an urn.  That shape is attributed to the neoclassical era (1790-1820), so it is possible the summer kitchen could be a later addition.  Perhaps the loft was crafted as a place for guests to stay and/or storage.


Below is the fireplace in the summer kitchen. A reason for constructing a stone fireplace here but not in the main house escapes me, especially since I find them very attractive.  Perhaps stones being a readily avaiable material at hand were used here as a cost savings. The stoves used in the main house could have been considered an upgrade by the owner, since they are more fuel and heat efficient; or merely more aesthetically pleasing.

Fireplace - Summer Kitchen: THS Photo

Finally, here is one of my favorite features of this colonial house, a stone fencepost.

Stone and Concrete Fencepost: THS Photo

The following statement on the property is from Ed Mosheim President, Hereford Township Heritage Society, Inc. When I started a discussion with folks from the group at National Trust for Historic Preservation at Linkedin, member Kate O'Donnel contacted him.

"I understand your question and am pretty sure that the property you describe
is the former home of Philip Traub (1809 - 1888) and his son, Henry (1835 -
1880), who were both shoemakers. The home and "summer kitchen" are on one
side of Deer Hill Road and the barn on the opposite side. The acreage
associated with this property could have been somewhere around 30 acres, but
is much smaller today. The Traubs apparently provided the land for a one
room school house that was built up the road and down to a lower elevation
as it has always been known as the Traub School. That building is not owned
today by the current owners of the house, summer kitchen, and what is left
of the barn. The barn is a single story stone structure now. The second
story was removed many years ago. We had access to old (circa 1930)
photographs of both the house and barn when it was owned Earl O. Schott
(1903-1952) and his wife, Beulah V. Schott (1906 - 1943). At that time the
second floor of the barn was constructed totally with lumber and was covered
with either a tin or wooden shingled roof. We published a 400 page book in
2005 that contains these photographs previously mentioned. The Traub one
room schoolhouse property is no longer connected to the tract of your
interest. Also, other building lots were sold that were part of the original
tract owned by the Traub family. The last family I know of that lived in
this property had the family name of "Sabo". The property has been on the
market for quite a while."

Thank you Ed!

If you have a comment on this property or the material I've presented, please leave a note here or at Linkedin.  I would love to hear from you!

Theresa Haffner-Stearns

Yummy Furniture and Design

theresamhs@sbcglobal.net

608-345-7027

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