West Sixth Street Historic District
Also known as: See Also:Reed, Charles Manning, Mansion; Watson-Curtze Mansio
Why it's listed
West Sixth Street in Erie, Pennsylvania, is a residential district of about 117 buildings running parallel to the Lake Erie shoreline. It developed as the city's most fashionable residential area after the Erie Extension Canal basin was filled in 1871, and it kept that status until the 1930s. Wealthy industrialists, many founders of local manufacturing firms, built large houses here, often as gifts for their children. The district contains the Romanesque Revival Strong Mansion, completed in 1896 for Anna Wainwright Scott Strong, whose home became the city's social centre. Its architecture spans Federal, Greek Revival, Second Empire, Queen Anne, Tudor Revival and Prairie styles. Several works by regionally prominent architects are included, among them Green and Wicks of Buffalo. The district is regarded as an important record of late nineteenth- and early twentieth-century American architecture and social life.
Significance in brief: The district is described as Erie's fashionable residential area from the 1871 filling of the canal basin until the 1930s, often called Millionaires Row. It is said to document the tastes of the nineteenth-century elite and a wide range of American architectural styles, with work by several regionally prominent architects. Its homes were built largely by founders of local manufacturing firms, and it is described as relatively well preserved with few intrusions.
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 84000353, listed November 1, 1984. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | W. 6th St. from Poplar to Peach St., Erie |
|---|---|
| County | Erie County |
| Listed | November 1, 1984 |
| Reference number | 84000353 |
| Resource type | District |
| Period of significance | 1800-1930 |
| Architectural style | Federal, Greek Revival, Italian Villa, Italianate, Second Empire, Stick Style, Queen Anne, Romanesque Revival, Beaux-Arts, Shingle Style, Colonial Revival, Tudor Revival, Bungalow, Craftsman, Prairie Style |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Industry, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Most buildings are in good or excellent condition; some intrusions and demolitions have occurred, and further demolition is described as a potential threat. |
| Acreage | 55 |
| Coordinates | 42.12694, -80.09110 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
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 84000353.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7986538
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.