Stevens

Southeast Quadrant

The Stevens area is named for the Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology (formerly Stevens School of Trade), the area's most recognizable physical landmark and also for Thaddeus Stevens, for whom the school is named.

Stevens developed extensively after 1900. The character of the area is largely defined by rowhouses exhibiting a variety of early-twentieth century styles. The Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology defines the northeast corner of the area, and the East King Street corridor is its northern boundary. See What's Here (and What's New)!

The streetscape of this section of East King Street, from Stevens Trade to near the corner of South Marshall Street, is defined by two very long rows of two-story brick houses with mansard roofs, two-stories in height with original front porches. Interspersed with these rather architecturally unified houses are an important early one story house (the Gibson-Wetzel House) and intruding parcels containing modern retail/commercial facilities. East of Marshall Street, King Street makes a very distinct visual boundary between the Stevens and East Side areas, principally due to the differing uses on each side of the street: residences in Stevens and the Lancaster County Prison and Reservoir Park in the East Side. The King Street streetscape west of Marshall Street is largely defined by residences on both sides of the street, making the visual demarcation between the areas less apparent. Still, subtle architectural differences define the distinct individual character of each area in these blocks.

Joshua Scott's 1824 map of the city shows lines indicating large tracts or farms in this area. Rockland Street is shown as the only street extending through the area, running from King Street to the city line. Other than a dense infill of buildings along King Street, the area remained undeveloped by the time of Moody and Bridgens 1850 map. Ann Street was extended south of King Street to present day Rockland Street by 1858, as were Marshall and Franklin Streets. Vine Street (now East End Avenue) was also laid out by this time. However, no houses are shown other than those on properties facing onto King Street. The block bounded by Vine, Ann, Mifflin and Plum Streets is shown as "J. N. Millers Vegetable and Fruit Garden." The area remained undeveloped in 1864 as indicated by the Atlas of that year. The "Children's Home" is shown on the east side of Ann Street on Roe and Colby's 1874 map and represents the only additional development to occur by that time.

The full pattern of streets in the area is indicated as being planned on the 1887 Board of Trade map, although no new buildings are shown. The first extensive development in the Stevens area occurred over the next twelve years. The 1899 Atlas shows densely placed houses west of South Ann Street, and north of Dauphin Street, including a series of duplexes along the west side of South Ann Street. Additional houses are shown along South Marshall Street on both sides of the block south of King Street. The remainder of the area was largely undeveloped until the early 1900s.

Today, the area is largely built up except for three large open spaces: the schoolyard and playing fields of the School District of Lancaster, an undeveloped hillside that rises behind the school property, and land on the property of Stevens Trade School.

The growth and development of Stevens has been the apparent product of two primary factors. The blocks on the south side of East King Street from Plum Street to Marshall, with a few exceptions of earlier structures, are part of the general residential expansion of the city in the second half of the 1800s. There were only occasional buildings before 1850. The other main factor in the development of East King Street beyond South Marshall Street, and the remaining areas to the south, was a commercial one, as several Lancaster real estate companies promoted it throughout the first three decades of this century. Advertisements for houses in these areas emphasized their proximity to industries and center city, with the then remarkable factor of a view into open country to the east. Extensive residential development continued within the area in the 1950s and 1960s.

Visually, the area breaks down into several smaller sections. The Plum/Pershing sub-area is generally Rockland, Plum and Green Streets and was one of the earliest portions of Stevens to develop. The area consists primarily of brick two-story rowhouses and duplexes. The houses in this section are relatively plain, compared to their more elaborate counterparts along South Ann Street. The angled streets and topography give the neighborhood a distinctive character.

The South Ann Street Neighborhood is a linear corridor that flanks the principal north to south thoroughfare through Stevens. Its character is largely defined by long sets of rowhouses that are set back from the street to allow for small front yards. These rowhouses, constructed in the first third of the 1900s exhibit the rich and eclectic style of the period in which many different architectural elements are used to create visual interest in an otherwise repetitive row.

The Green/Marshall Streets is bounded to the west by the South Ann Street Neighborhood, to the north by the King Street corridor, to the east by Stevens Trade and to the south by Juniata Street. The area is somewhat eclectic in character, with elaborate early-twentieth century rowhouses and duplexes immediately south of King Street and smaller, more simply detailed rows and duplexes to the south that were constructed between 1930 and the 1950s.

The Stevens Trade School, constructed in what contemporaries termed "...modified Moorish design," was constructed in 1907-1908. The focal point of the facade is a tall clock tower at the center, ornamented with a balcony, arcades and four clock faces. This most noted trade school was founded in part from a legacy devised by the political figure and "Great Commoner," Thaddeus Stevens, who died in 1868. The actual establishment of this institution was delayed due to legal quarrels over the settlement of Steven's estate. On 29 March 1906, Seymour Davis and Paul A. Davis III, of Philadelphia were selected as architects. D.H. Rapp of Lancaster was the contractor. The building was almost complete by 16 May 1908. There have been many additions to the south and east in the years since.

In addition to these areas, there are several prominent landmark buildings within Stevens, among them the Edward Hand Junior High School, the George Washington Elementary School and the Henry Musser House. The two schools are located next to each other on a large tract of open land bounded by South Ann, Juniata and Chesapeake Streets. The Edward Hand Junior High School was constructed circa 1925 in the Colonial Revival style. The Art Deco/Moderne George Washington Elementary School was added to the site in 1932 and is one of the city's few examples of that architectural style.

The Henry Musser House, a two and one-half story, four bay stone farmhouse, was built circa 1761 to 1763 for Henry Musser. Musser was a wealthy farmer and son of settler Hans Musser. Land from the original Musser tract was developed to become the southeastern quadrant of the city. This may be the oldest stone house surviving in the city. Although it has been altered to some degree over time, it remains an exceptionally significant building for the city due to its association with the Musser family.

Another house worthy of mention is the Gibson-Wetzel House at 602 East King Street. This one and one-half story brick house was constructed circa 1830 and purchased by John Wetzel from John Gibson in 1846.