Client: Historic Erie Restorations
Location: 318 West 6th Street, Erie, Pennsylvania
Dates: Original building — c.1892; Renovation — Completed April 2022
National Register of Historic Places: Listed as a contributing building in the West Sixth Street Historic District.
This project involved extensive masonry restoration and cleaning, roof repair, window replacement, painting and landscaping. Significant interior renovation work and modifications were required in addition to major structural and foundation repair. Additional work included painting, extensive woodwork restoration and repair, replacement of all flooring and finishes, improved accessibility, and all new electrical, HVAC, plumbing, and sprinkler system. The project also included renovation of a two-story garage behind the house into a one-bedroom apartment with access to the garage below.
This Victorian eclectic-style house was built for the socially prominent Selden sisters, Joanna Sill Selden (1845–1925) and Emma Josephine Selden (1850–1927), on property purchased from John T. Boyd in 1896. Boyd had a small house on the property, which was replaced by the Seldens. The carriage house was built c.1912.
The Selden sisters were closely connected to prominent Erie families. Their parents, Joseph Selden (1817–1852) and Joanna Lanham Sill (1819–1854), each died at age 34. The young sisters were raised by their maternal grandparents. Their grandfather, Hon. Thomas Sill, was an early Erie settler, lawyer, state legislator, and congressman. Their great uncle, Hon. Judah Colt, was an early burgess of Erie and one of Erie County’s earliest and most important settlers, having served as an agent for the county’s first land developer, Pennsylvania Population Company. The Selden family included successful early Erie industrialists whose businesses included Erie City Iron Works (1840–1966) and the Griswold Manufacturing Co. (1865–1957), which was known worldwide for its cast-iron cookware. Following the deaths of Joanna and Emma in the 1920s, the property passed to their nephew, George Dudley Selden, Jr. (1889–1960) and his wife, Zella Detmold Boynton (1897–1975). George Selden was president of the Erie City Iron Works.
After a half century of ownership by the Selden family, the house was sold c.1948. It was converted into apartments and was used as a fraternity house for a time. The structure was built on the outcroppings of the canal, near what had been a coal yard. Because it was not built on shale, there have been issues with the foundation due to settling. The property was acquired by the Historic Erie Restorations in 2019.
Preservation Pennsylvania recognized Historic Erie Restorations, LLC with the 2022 Pennsylvania Historic Preservation Award for revitalization of the 300-400 blocks of the West Sixth Street Historic District, including this property.
