The "Sehner-Ellicott-von Hess House" Story

123 North Prince Street is listed on National Register of Historical
Places.  Built in 1787, it was scheduled for demolition in 1962, but
survived and was restored to it's original condition 35 years ago.
Notice the brick ledge, about waist high, around the bottom of the
house.  It was a water table which was meant to deflect water away
from the foundation of the home.  Does it work?   Who knows. 

It was an ordinary day.  Standing in front of the Sehner-Ellicott-von Hess House on North Prince Street in historical downtown Lancaster, Pennsylvania.  Heading to Central Market about a half-block away.  Market day and parking is at a premium at times so I took the first space I found rather than parking in a paid lot and having to pay more than a metered spot.  Grabbed my camera for a few shots of the house that was built in 1787 by German surveyor, mathematician, astronomer, woodworker and builder Gottlieb Sehner.  He lived in the house with his wife, his widowed mother, an unmarried brother and his children.  

The rear garden and entrance.  The door
to the right, next to the ivy on the wall,
is the entrance to the Historic Trust.

When Gottlieb died, his widow rented the house to Andrew Ellicott who then occupied the home from 1754 to 1820.  While living in the house at 123 North Prince Street, Ellicott was commissioned by President Thomas Jefferson to teach Meriwether Lewis surveying techiniques to help him, along with William Clark, in his exploration of the Louisiana Purchase.   Ellicott was well prepared having surveyed Washington, D.C. boundaries, helping map the Mason-Dixon Line and helped define the line between the Colonies and the Spanish territories in what would become Florida.  Ellicott would become the first United States Surveyor General from 1801 to 1813.  The house was used as a home for about 100 years after Ellicott moved out, serving as The Otters Lodge social club at one point.  

An historical sign telling the story of
Andrew Ellicott who lived in the home.

In 1962 the house was scheduled to be demolished along with the entire northern first block of downtown Lancaster, but a citizen's group was started who formed the Historic Preservation Trust of Lancaster County, which saved the house.  The house was then purchased by the Louise Steinman von Hess Foundation and restored from 1978 to 1981 and became the headquarters of the Historic Preservation Trust.  A sign that hangs in front of the house says that it also is the headquarters for State Senator Lloyd K. Smucker.  After snapping a few photos of the house, I put my camera back in the car and headed to market to buy a fat ..... cream-filled long john.  And boy was it good!  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy. 

Photo of the Sehner-Ellicott-von Hess House years ago before restoration.