Congregational Store
Also known as: Wolle's Store
Why it's listed
Built in 1762 for Matthew Schady on East Main Street in Lititz, the Congregational Store is a two-story limestone building with a gabled roof, later joined by a three-story brick addition of about 1854-1859. Its store opened in 1764 under John Christian Fenstermacher, and until 1828 it was the only store in Lititz, serving the Moravian community and residents of northern Lancaster County. It was part of a chain of Moravian-owned businesses extending from Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, to Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and in the eighteenth century it sold imported items such as Dresden (Meissen) cups and saucers. During the winter of 1777-1778 the town served as a hospital for wounded Continental Army soldiers, and the head surgeon of the Continental Army was quartered there from December 1777 to August 1778. The 1762 section retains a rare panelled chimney breast, and the 1850s storefront, with its Tuscan pilasters and marble foundation, is regarded as the most intact of its type in Lititz.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the building is significant in architecture, commerce and military history. It served as the principal store in Lititz from 1764 to 1828 and was part of a chain of Moravian-owned businesses. During the winter of 1777-1778 Lititz hosted a hospital for wounded Continental Army soldiers, and the 1762 structure is described as the most intact pre-Revolutionary store remaining in Lancaster County.
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 83002250, listed January 6, 1983. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 120-122 E. Main St., Lititz |
|---|---|
| County | Lancaster County |
| Listed | January 6, 1983 |
| Reference number | 83002250 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1762-1859 |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in good condition, altered; the form notes the 1762 section is largely intact and the 1850s storefront is about 95% intact. |
| Acreage | 0.3 |
| Within district | Lititz Moravian Historic District |
| Coordinates | 40.15635, -76.30351 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
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 83002250.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5160748
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.