Reed, Charles Manning, Mansion
Why it's listed
Built in brick on a stone foundation in Erie, the Charles Manning Reed Mansion was begun in 1846 and completed around 1849 after delays caused by the owner's demands for perfection. Buffalo architect Edward B. Smith designed it, and the local masons James and William Hoskinson built it, while E. F. Barger, head carpenter from Reed's shipyard, supplied the woodwork. The residence has a seven-bay front with four fluted Ionic columns rising two stories beneath a pedimented portico, and a central oval room on each floor. A helical metal service stair with 58 steps is noted as unusual. The third floor has a railed walk from which the bedrooms open, and a cupola sits above. Charles Reed, a businessman whose interests included railroads, banking and a hotel, built the house on a site that marked a shift away from the waterfront. The Erie Club acquired the property in 1904, and the mansion is regarded as one of the finest Greek Revival homes in the region.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the mansion is probably the best known landmark in Erie for its size, architecture, and association with the city's most prominent nineteenth-century family. It is described as striking for its broad Ionic portico and as reaching the highest point of the Greek type in Pennsylvania, according to cited critics.
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 82003786, listed April 19, 1982. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 524 Peach St., Erie |
|---|---|
| County | Erie County |
| Listed | April 19, 1982 |
| Reference number | 82003786 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1846-1849 |
| Architect / builder | Edward B. Smith (architect); J. & W. Hoskinson (builders) |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Now occupied by the Erie Club; the nomination describes the interior as remodeled for club use. |
| Acreage | 0.6 |
| Coordinates | 42.12898, -80.08729 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary for a privately owned home: it does not by itself restrict what an owner may do with their own money, and it does not require public access. Restrictions come from local landmark or historic-district ordinances, which are separate (how they differ).
Owner-occupied houses are not eligible for the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit, which applies to income-producing buildings, but many states offer credits for homeowners. Listing also opens the door to preservation easements and to buying a plaque. Start with what listing means for homeowners, renovating a listed house and selling one.
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 82003786.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5080639
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.