Hagen History Center — Wood-Morrison house

Client: The Erie County Historical Society
Location: 338 West 6th St., Erie, Pennsylvania
Dates: Original Building — 1858; Renovation Complete — 2019
Size: 5,000 SF
National Register of Historic Places: Contributing building in the West 6th Street Historic District.

This Italianate-style home was commissioned by Dr. William M. Wood (1809- 1880), and the design is attributed to Dudley and Hawk. Renovation work included restoration of the ground floor for use as exhibit galleries and creation of classrooms and meeting areas on the second floor and basement. An addition on the back of the house provides elevator accessibility to the second floor, while maintaining the period look of the house with matching brick. The barn was renovated into a maintenance facility for the Hagen History Center campus. Jefferys Engineering designed the building’s mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and fire protection systems. Kidder Jefferys Construction provided construction management services.

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Dr. Wood was the first surgeon general of the Navy and served as physician for the U.S.S. Michigan/Wolverine in Erie, Pennsylvania. During his varied military career, he was also involved in the acquisition of California by the United States. Dr. Wood regularly performed surgery in the basement of the Erie home. His wife, Rose Mary Carson (1928–1885), was a niece of President Zachary Taylor. In their prior home, Dr. Wood treated President Taylor for six days in August 1849. The barn behind the home was built in 1838 to house mules that pulled barges on the Erie Extension Canal. The canal ran to the east of the property, where the Canalside Apartments now sit.

It was purchased by ship a chandler Leverett A. Morrison (1832–1871) and his wife, Missouri Bliss Morrison (1834–1924) in 1865. The family lived here for 92 years and later purchased the land to the west on which the Watson-Curtze Mansion was built. Their son, Captain William Morrison (1869-1956), was the last Captain of the Michigan/Wolverine and first superintendent of Presque Isle State Park in 1922. Captain Morrison oversaw the reconstruction of the U.S. Brig Niagara in 1912. He was a member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives and a founding member of the Erie Yacht Club.

The property was purchased by the Erie Art Center after the death of Morrison and his wife in 1956, then by Schroeck & Associates Law firm in 1984, and finally by the Erie County Historical Society in 2016.

HISTORICAL MARKER

1858 House designed in Italianate style by Dudley & Hawk for Dr. William Maxwell Wood (1809-1880), U.S. Navy surgeon on Erie based USS Michigan (later Wolverine). At his previous Erie Home, Dr. Wood treated ailing U.S. President Zachary Taylor (Uncle of Mrs. Wood) for six days in August 1849. Wood became first U.S. Navy surgeon general in 1871. Property sold in 1865 to ship chandler Leverett A. Morrison (1832-1871) and his wife, Missouri Bliss Morrison (1834-0924). Family lived here 92 years, including son William L. Morrison (1869-1956), the last captain of the USS Wolverine and first superintendent of Presque Isle State Park. The 1838 barn once housed mules that pulled barges on Erie Extension Canal (1831-1871) just east of here. House now Education Center for Hagen History Center. A significant building in West Sixth Street Historic District.