West End

Southwest Quadrant

The West End was developed in the early 1900s and possesses a rich architectural character. This neighborhod was developed from the late 1800s through the mid 1900s, largely as a residential area with some scattered light industries. The architectural character of the area generally breaks down into two groups. Medium scale late-Victorian rowhouses, duplexes and detached houses are typically found in the area bounded by Bay Street, Columbia Avenue, Old Dorwart and Coral Streets. See What's Here (and What's New)!

This contrasts with the remaining areas, in which houses tend to reflect simpler early-twentieth century stylistic influences.

The West End area is bounded to the west by the city line. Architecturally, this is a very arbitrary limit, as the neighborhood essentially continues into Lancaster Township until it meets School Lane Hills.

As late as 1874, when Roe and Colby completed their map of Lancaster, the West End area was largely farmland, with a dense collection of houses along the west side of Old Dorwart Street and some residences scattered along Columbia Avenue and Manor Street. The Lancaster Board of Trade's 1887 map indicates that little changed in the ensuing thirteen years, other than the addition of houses along the two major roads. Streets within the area are largely shown in outline, indicating that they had not yet been extended. First and Second Streets are indicated on the 1899 Atlas, with a considerable number of houses shown along the former, and the Pearl Street Public School located at the corner of First and Pearl Streets. In addition, much of the area from Coral Street east to Old Dorwart Street was built up. Construction continued throughout the early 1900s, with the area largely filled in by mid-century.

Visually, the strong unifying and demarcating factors identifying the northern portion of the West End are the very long rows of light-colored brick houses with mansard roofs, dormer windows and front porches that stretch along the south side of West King Street and Columbia Avenue from Pearl Street two blocks toward the east. There are occasional two-story, three-bay facade brick houses with gable roofs, most of which probably date from the 1880s. The south side of Columbia Avenue from Pearl Street to West End Avenue is somewhat more diverse in character, but it continues this general scale and sense of lively roof lines. The side streets and First Street are generally characterized by two-story brick rowhouses with mansard roofs and variable front porches; most of these rowhouses date circa 1895 through 1915. The rowhouses with stone facades commencing at 834 Columbia Avenue are unusual. Another unusual row of houses is on the east side of Pearl Street, between Columbia Avenue and First Street. It features a combination of red and gold brick with terra cotta panels.

The growth of this area seems to have been determined by a number of factors representing a balance between residential and industrial components. The internal industries of this area that influenced its growth were the Rei ker Star Brewery at the corner of West King and Old Dorwart Streets (now Crystal Park) and the John Slater & Company Stogie Factory along Columbia Avenue. External factors of growth included the westward growth of Lancaster City along Columbia and Marietta Avenues. Later, industries along West End Avenue also influenced the development of this area.

The later growth of this area moved southward from First Street, west from the Cabbage Hill area and east of West End Avenue. Most of the development of the two or three blocks south of First Street took place after circa 1900 to 1905 and before 1940.

A number of small industries also developed within the early 1900s, the most notable being the Slaymaker Lock Company, at the southeast corner of First Street and West End Avenue. In addition to Slaymaker, the Safe Padlock and Hardware Company was located in a building at 502 Crystal Street.

In addition to Slater's Stogie Factory, the J. B. Milleysack Cigar Factory, located at the rear of 820 Columbia Avenue, is an important individual landmark related to Lancaster's tobacco processing heritage that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The present Historic Blue Star Tavern, originally the Western Market Hotel of the Rieker Star Brewery, is another of the significant single buildings in this area. Built as the tavern for the Rieker Star Brewery, which was located to the south before its demolition in 1941, the interior retains an elaborate bar and pressed metal ceilings. This is Lancaster's most intact tavern surviving from the 1875 to 1900 period, both on the interior and the exterior.

The West End area has a diverse architectural character that deserves community appreciation. The intrusions are minor and do not detract substantially from the major buildings.