Today this church continues to house the Presbyterian congregation and remains largely unaltered. The development of the railroad further enhanced Lemont's growth as a community. By track had been laid as far as Spring Mills, in eastern Centre County.
In the corporate name was changed to the Lewisburg and Tyrone Railroad Company, with immediate plans to complete the line to Bellefonte. Sam Weaver, who later built a beautiful Gothic house near the railroad station, was instrumental in the completion of this important section of track.
The completion of the railroad further enhanced commercial activity in Lemont, much of it directly connected with transportation.
Thompson and Company erected a large side for unloading farm machinery, as well as for loading grain, fruit, hay, and livestock brought in for shipment by local farmers.
A coal yard was provided for the receiving and storing of coal shipments, as well as a grain elevator for seasonal grain storage. Lemont also served as the only railroad access point for people traveling to and from the nearby Pennsylvania State College, creating a sizable increase in passenger traffic. Lemont's role as a transportation center thus established, its prominence lasted well into the 's. Elmer C. Ross, the village's latest speculator, took over many of the Thompson interests including the general store and the grain and coal business, and bought one of the finest Victorian houses in the area, built by James I.
Increasingly successful in his monument business, L. Frank Mayes purchased the Dr. Dale House in , and later located the Memorial business next door in a building with appropriate Neo-classical features. The Schreck Blacksmith Shop continued successfully under the operation of succeeding generations of Schrecks, expanding with the advent of the automobile to include automobile maintenance and repair.
With increasing emphasis on automobile travel, Robert Hoy built a sizable garage and auto repair business which proved so successful that it continued under the operation of Paul Houser, only recently closing in The end of the 's saw the beginning of Lemont's decline as a transportation and commercial center.
Rapid improvements in automobile travel and the increasing numbers of automobiles in use soon outmoded the main road through the village. It was finally rerouted at Centre Furnace in , completely bypassing Lemont, and was later enlarged to become a four lane highway now known as the Benner Pike Pa. Route Although railroad service continued and was extended to State College, it gradually succumbed to the increasing popularity of highway travel.
Today Lemont's buildings and street plan remain as bonds to the transportation factors which influenced the development of the community and its early settlement history.
The architectural significance of Lemont lies in the representation of three periods of time, corresponding with the district's most active phases of growth. This significance is demonstrated in a few remaining examples of folk houses, and in the vernacular interpretations of popular national styles.
The first of these periods, prior to the formal laying out of the village in , is represented by folk houses in the common I one-room-deep configuration. These are small, two story houses characterized by one-over-one or two-over-two floor plans, gabled roofs with ridges parallel to the street, and squarish windows. Often built with the plank method of construction until the advent of the more popular balloon frame method, these buildings were functional and simple in their over-all scheme, with little attention paid to stylistic detailing.
Two examples are the J. Shuey House, which served as a toll house and as Lemont's first post office, and in the Mary Payne house, which was part of an early local pottery. Both exhibit the two story, three-bay I configuration with central entrances, square windows, and simple lintels. Although both have been altered, their basic integrity remains intact. The Nelson Williams House, built at a slightly later date, displays more elaboration including features such as slightly pointed lintels, longer window openings, and a transom light over its central entrance way.
Its exterior remains intact and accurately reveals the form and character of the I house. These earliest folk houses reflect the original development of the area as a rural farming locale.
The William Williams House, built in the 's, varies from the usual plan of houses of that time, and features a gable roof with ridge perpendicular rather than parallel to the street, a side hall configuration, and the indication of Gothic forms. Continuously owned by the Williams family since its erection, it originally housed the family of a successful farmer and landowner, which may account for its more stylish appearance. The Dr. Benjamin Berry House, built circa , is one of the earliest houses in the district and features a distinctive main portion built of log.
Although frame additions, clapboard siding, and an elongated, bay window have slightly updated its character, it retains its prominence. Berry was a well known county physician. This house served as his home and office. Having a two story rectangular floor plan with side hall entrance and gable roof, it features a delicate oculus window in its gable end, which counterbalances the building's imposing limestone solidity. This structure represents the Thompsons' belief in the area's potential for commercial development, and it was one of the first of many businesses to be established in the village.
Soon after the construction of this early bank building, Moses Thompson laid out a street plan for the village in The period reveals a building tradition which reflects more of the contemporary national trends in architecture.
Vernacular interpretations of the Gothic and Italianate styles, and one strong example of Neo-Colonial, can be seen in buildings of this era.
The stylistic consciousness expressed was appropriate to a newly flourishing village as well as being consistent with the period. Improvements in transportation, farming, and tools, as well as better availability of goods and services, all contributed to a better standard of living and a desire to emulate cosmopolitan styles.
Unionville borough, PA 2. Property values in Lemont, PA. Here: 3. Educational services Postsecondary teachers Air pollution and air quality trends lower is better.
City: City: 2. City: 0. City: 8. Services: enclosed waiting area, public restrooms, public payphones, free short-term parking, free long-term parking, call for taxi service. Average household size: This place: 2. Percentage of family households: This place: Percentage of households with unmarried partners: This place: 6.
Education Gini index Inequality in education Here: Number of grocery stores : 20 Centre County : 1. Pennsylvania : 2. Number of supercenters and club stores : 2 Centre County : 0.
Pennsylvania : 0. Number of convenience stores no gas : 7 Centre County : 0. Number of convenience stores with gas : 40 This county : 2. State : 2. Number of full-service restaurants : 89 Centre County : 6.
Pennsylvania : 7. Adult diabetes rate : This county : 7. Adult obesity rate : Centre County : Low-income preschool obesity rate : Centre County : Pros College-town amenities Attractive setting Educated population. Cons Isolation Narrow employment base Low ethnic diversity. Best Places to Live in Lemont Rankings.
Housing Market in Lemont. It's a good time to buy in Lemont. Home Appreciation is up 9. You can also use our New Interactive Map to explore places. Try Now. All rights reserved. BestPlaces Mobile App. Lowest Priced Homes. Most Expensive Listings. Largest Homes. Median Priced Homes. College-town amenities. Includes college residents halls, nursing facilities, military barracks, and correctional facilities.
The Diversity Index is a scale of 0 to that represents the likelihood that two persons, chosen at random from the same area, belong to different races or ethnic groups. If an area's entire population belongs to one race AND one ethnic group, then the area has zero diversity. The Housing Affordability Index base is and represents a balance point where a resident with a median household income can normally qualify to purchase a median price home.
Values above indicate increased affordability, while values below indicate decreased affordability.
0コメント