Canalside Townhouses — 1875

Client: Historic Erie Restorations
Location: 328-330 and 332-334 West 6th St., Erie, Pennsylvania
Dates: Original building — 1875; Renovation complete — 2020
Size: 7,000 SF each; 14,000 total
National Register of Historic Places: Contributing buildings in the West Sixth Street Historic District.
Tax Credits: Federal and Pennsylvania Historic Preservation Tax Credits

Each of these two matching, three-story, Second Empire-style buildings was constructed with two single-family townhouses in each. Over time they had been divided into 20 units, ten in each building. Renovation work included the creation of 12 apartments total, six in each building.

This project involved extensive masonry restoration and cleaning, roof repair, window replacement, painting and landscaping. Significant interior renovation work and modifications included restoration of original main staircases and construction of a new second staircase at the rear of each building to meet code requirements for egress. Additional work included painting, extensive woodwork restoration and repair, replacement of all flooring and finishes, and all new electrical, HVAC, plumbing, and sprinkler system. Rear porches were added to all three levels.

334-328 W 6 (South and East) - FIO_5746-1.jpg

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These three-story, Second Empire-style, duplex townhouses were built in 1875 by a respected contractor and brick mason, John M. Kuhn (1831–1906). Kuhn bought the property in 1872 from the widow Missouri Bliss Morrison who owned the Wood-Morrison House, located just to the west of the duplexes, at 338 West Sixth St. Known as “The Kuhn Block,” the brick townhouses each featured two private residences. Kuhn was a contractor and brick mason. He built many well-known structures in Erie, including the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Home.

The buildings were divided into many more units over the years and had fallen into progressive states of disrepair. Purchased in 2018, these properties were the first to be acquired by Historic Erie Restorations.

In 1984, the duplexes were listed on the National Register of Historic Places by the U.S. Department of the Interior as contributing buildings in the West Sixth Street Historic District.

Preservation Pennsylvania recognized Historic Erie Restorations, LLC with the 2022 Pennsylvania Historic Preservation Award for revitalization of the 300-400 blocks of the West Sixth Street Historic District, including this property.

Historical Marker

Begun in 1831 at Beaver, PA and completed in 1844, the canal crossed West 6th St. at this point ending at Presque Isle Bay in West Canal Basin. Part of Pennsylvania canal system, this canal connected Lake Erie to Ohio River. After closing in 1871, these two Second Empire-style duplexes were built in the canal bed in 1875 by German-born John M. Kuhn (1831-1906) and are contributing buildings to the West Sixth Street Historic District. The 1838 Wood-Morrison barn behind the West Duplex once housed mules for pulling canal barges.