Qhandlery Corner
Why it's listed
Three red brick buildings of two and three stories stand at the southeast corner of 4th and State Streets in Erie, arranged on a right-angle axis. The Peter Rockwell House dates from 1832 and was later converted to commercial use, with its roof remodeled to a Mansard form and its ground floor lowered. The Frederick Schneider House was built in 1846 and retains many of its Greek Revival features. The Schneider/Kessler Chandlery, erected in 1851, was expanded in 1870 when Christian Kessler acquired it. Schneider established Erie's first candle business here, and the corner later became a ship chandlery supplying sailing vessels and fishing tugs. The complex is significant for its association with the commercial trades that served Erie as a busy lake port during the later 19th century and into the early 20th century.
Significance in brief: The complex is associated with Erie's first soap and candle maker and later with the ship chandlery trade that supplied the lake port's shipping and commercial fishing fleets in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The nomination also points to the Schneider house's connection to the local German community and its role in hosting Carl Schurz during the 1860 Lincoln campaign.
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 87000030, listed February 5, 1987. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 1 and 3 E. Fourth St., and 401--403, and 405 State St., Erie |
|---|---|
| County | Erie County |
| Listed | February 5, 1987 |
| Reference number | 87000030 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival (Frederick Schneider House); Federal townhouse origin with Mansard alterations (Peter Rockwell House) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The Chandlery building was used as rental property after 1919 and the Rockwell House later served as a bar and lounge; the nomination describes recent use as a bar and lounge and the Schneider house as a boarding house until recently. |
| Acreage | 0.2 |
| Within district | West Park Place |
| Coordinates | 42.13141, -80.08641 (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 87000030.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5071216
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.