Federal Row
Why it's listed
Five red brick residences stand on a corner plot in Erie, Pennsylvania, built between 1823 and 1840. Four of the five are laid in Flemish bond, and most keep simple Federal detailing such as flat lintels, symmetrical windows and raised basements with cooking hearths and bake ovens. Mason and brickmaker David Kennedy, an Irish immigrant who arrived in 1828, built the David Kennedy House in 1832 and the adjoining Kennedy Row and Kennedy Double houses, supplying brick for a jail and experimenting with an artificial stone mix. The Alexander Brewster House, dating from 1823, is the oldest of the group. Its later occupants included merchant and public official Alexander W. Brewster and the Bureau of Charities. Charles M. Tibbals, a dry goods merchant who later manufactured stoves and served as Collector of the Port, lived in the house at the western end. The group is valued for its surviving early brick architecture and for its links to the town's leading families of that period.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the group is the single remaining intact concentration of Erie's first Federal style brick structures and shows the life and values of the town's emerging entrepreneurial class in the second quarter of the 19th century. Builder David Kennedy, a brickmaker and mason, gave the neighborhood its architectural character, and the houses are associated with prominent local figures in business and civic affairs.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 84003355, listed May 17, 1984. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 146-162 E. 5th St.; 424-430 Holland St., Erie |
|---|---|
| County | Erie County |
| Listed | May 17, 1984 |
| Reference number | 84003355 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1823-1902 |
| Architect / builder | David Kennedy (builder) |
| Architectural style | Federal; Greek Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Acreage | 0.7 |
| Coordinates | 42.13169, -80.08254 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 84003355.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5440419
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.