Historic Structure Report: Historical and Architectural Data Sections, The Lemon House, Allegheny Portage Railroad National Historic Site
Toogood AC and Souder NM. 1972. Historic Structure Report: Historical and Architectural Data Sections, The Lemon House, Allegheny Portage Railroad National Historic Site. Historic Structure Report. U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service. Denver, Colorado
This report contains a historical data section (with administrative data) and an architectural data section for the the Lemon House. The structure was built in the mountains of central Pennsylvania by Samuel Lemon around 1831 and represents one of the earliest of the few taverns that served the railroad during its early years. It was also a local landmark and coal center until the end of the 19th century. This history of Samuel Lemon and his family reveals a spectrum of information pertaining to railroad operations, coal mining and shipping on the railroad, and the gradual transition of the area with the demise of the Allegheny Portage Railroad in 1855. Data related to the structural history is less complete. Research for this report builds upon groundwork data compiled by Historians Benjamin Levy and Earl Heydinger for the 1967 Historic Structure Report, Part I. In addition to their sources, this report covers records from local courthouses and historical societies, local libraries, and state archives which pertained to the Lemon family. The architectural data section provides an account of the original house and is a record of the alterations and changes that resulted in its condition at the time of publication. It also shows proposed restoration to the interior and exterior, with the estimated cost of that restoration to the historic period. The report recommends that the house be restored to its condition during the Allegheny Portage Railroad period when it served as a wayside stop. The original portion of the house was to be used for park offices and as a visitor center with exhibit rooms, restrooms, and an audio-visual room.
- Type
- Published Report
- Authors
- Toogood, Anna; Souder, Norman
- Date of Issue
- 1972-07
- Publisher
- U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service
- Units
- ALPO , NER
- Keywords
- Allegheny Mountains, canal, coal mining, engineering, family history, Hollidaysburg, incline plane, Pennsylvania Canal, Pennsylvania Railroad Company, portage, railroad, restoration, Samuel Lemon, stone house, tavern, visitor center, westward expansion
- Subjects
- CRIS-HS: 000017: Lemon House Tavern