Historic Structure Report: Archeological Data Section, The Lemon House, Allegheny Portage Railroad National Historic Site
Fiero KW, Parrington M, Acuff B, Aivazian B, Crabtree P, Guda J, Rhodes D. 1984. Historic Structure Report: Archeological Data Section, The Lemon House, Allegheny Portage Railroad National Historic Site. Historic Structure Report. U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service. Denver, Colorado
Excavations were carried out around the Lemon House at Allegheny Portage Railroad National Historic Site in 1978, 1980, 1981, and 1982. This report discusses the archeological investigation and includes a historical overview of the structure, documentation of the excavation process and results, and conclusions that can be drawn from this archeological data. A stone foundation was uncovered on the south side of the house, probably dating to the first half of the nineteenth century. Excavation suggests that the foundation was built soon after the Lemon House was constructed. Subsurface evidence establishes that the west wing on the house is original. Artifacts that were recovered during excavation are consistent with the changing use of the structure from a tavern during the first half of the nineteenth century to a private residence. The field to the south and west of the house has experienced various modifications since the nineteenth century. Investigators discovered three concentrations of trash to the southwest of the house and an area with a manure/straw deposit below the surface. A large stone slab feature was identified north of the house. The Allegheny Portage Railroad was a system for transporting people and goods across the mountains of central Pennsylvania. The Lemon House was built by Samuel Lemon sometime between 1831 and 1832. It served as a tavern and stopover point for railroad travelers. In this report, the historic period refers to the years from the early 1830s to the early 1850s when the portage railroad was in operation.
- Type
- Published Report
- Authors
- Fiero, Kathleen; Parrington, Michael; Acuff, Beth; Aivazian, Bryan; Crabtree, Pam Jean; Guda, Juliette; Rhodes, Diane
- Date of Issue
- 1984-08
- Publisher
- U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service
- Units
- ALPO , NER
- Keywords
- archeology, artifacts, canal-railroad system, ceramic, coal mining, engine house, excavation, laboratory procedure, Pennsylvania Main Line, plane number six, portage, posthole, railroad, Samuel Lemon, soil profile, stone foundation, tavern, test pit, trash pit, turnpike
- Subjects
- CRIS-HS: 000017: Lemon House Tavern