ERIE INSURANCE — JUDAH COLT + VON BUSECK HOUSE APARTMENTS

Client: Erie Insurance

Location: 5th and German streets, Erie, Pennsylvania
Dates: Original building — Judah Colt House c.1820, Von Buseck House c. 1815; Moved — 2017; Renovation complete — 2018
Size: 6,420 SF Total

This project involved four buildings on the corner of East 5th and German streets. Two historic homes were dismantled and reconstructed on the site, and two new structures were built on the property. One of the houses was previously located four blocks from this site, the other was several miles away. The Judah Colt and Von Buseck homes were both found in poor condition after years of neglect when they were acquired by Erie Insurance. Their existing conditions were drawn and each piece of lumber was labeled, dismantled and stored in a warehouse. The Judah Colt House was renovated to include two two-bedroom apartments, and the Von Buseck House was renovated to include two one-bedroom apartments. The new structures each include three tenant garages on the first floor and a two-bedroom apartment on the second floor.

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HON. JUDAH COLT HOUSE — C. 1820

One of Erie County’s earliest citizens, Hon. Judah Colt (1761–1832), settled at what is now known as Colt Station in 1796. He moved to the Borough of Erie in 1804 as the agent for the county’s first land developer, Pennsylvania Population Company. Colt served as burgess of Erie in 1813 and 1820–1821. He built this Federal-style house c.1820 at the southwest corner of East 4th and French streets where he entertained the Marquis De Lafayette (1757–1834) on June 3, 1825. This was also home to his nephew Thomas G. Colt (1805–1861), the last Burgess and the first mayor for the city of Erie. The house was moved to 345 East Front St. in 1890.

VON BUSECK HOUSE — C. 1815

This saltbox-style farmhouse was built c.1815 in west Millcreek on what is now known as 5021 West 38th Street, south of Wheaton Road. The land was owned by Irish immigrant John Nicholson (1764–1828), and the family of John Wheaton owned the building for a time. For over 150 years it was owned by Louis Von Buseck (1812–1893) and his descendants. Louis was born Ludwig Heinrich Von Buseck in Germany, the second son of Baron Carl Philip Von Buseck.

HISTORIC MARKER:

This Saltbox style farmhouse was built about 1815 in West Millcreek, south of Wheaton Rd. (later Knobloch Rd. now W. 38th St.), on land owned by Irish immigrant John Nicholson (1764-1828) who came to Erie County in 1797. House was owned for a time by John Wheaton family. For over 150 years, it was owned by Louis von Buseck (1812-1893) and descendants. Louis was born Ludwig Heinrich von Buseck in Germany, the second son of Baron Carl Phillip von Buseck. Unoccupied for decades, house was dismantled 2013 at original site (5031 W. 38th St.) and rebuilt here in 2018.