Liverpool and Preservation... iverpool was identified as a historic Pennsylvania History Code includes a district during the cultural resources similar mandate for state agencies. Lstudies for improvement to This commitment means that places Route 11/15. The district is eligible for from the past are available to help listing in the National Register of Historic future generations understand and Places as an example of a nineteenth- appreciate our heritage. century canal town. he Pennsylvania Department ur federal and state govern- of Transportation is proud of ments are committed to the Tour role of providing a highway understanding and protection of system that meets present and future O needs while protecting our historic properties. The National Historic Preservation Act requires federal Commonwealth’s past. We invite you agencies to consider the effects of their to learn about Liverpool and visit some actions on such properties, and the of the places that evoke its history. HISTORIC LIVERPOOL The canal circa late nineteenth century. Pennsylvania Department of Transportation Pennsylvania Engineering District 8-0 2140 Herr Street 17103-1699 Harrisburg, PA Historic photos graciously provided by Brad Lowe of Lowe’s Diner, Liverpool long the bustling roadways and the Susquehanna was a torrent carry- ohn Huggins purchased 121 acres river and allow goods to be carried of Route 11/15, the quiet ing boulders and debris from the ice along the western bank of the more months of the year was needed. community of Liverpool is sheets. All knowledge of Paleoindians is Susquehanna River in 1808. There Because of the local landscape, a road A from archaeological sites. One such site, J would not have been suitable, thus legis- nestled between the winding he laid out the town of Liverpool. Susquehanna River and the climbing used by Before drawing any lots for houses or lators mountains in Perry County. In the Paleoindians businesses in planning the new commu- decided to nineteenth century, Liverpool was a and subse- nity, land for a graveyard, a school, and a build a bustling market town on the quent church was reserved. The original village new canal Susquehanna Division of the Pennsylva- Native of Liverpool was bound on the southwest parallel to nia Canal. American by Strawberry the The rich groups, was Street and on Susquehanna heritage excavated the northeast by River. and at the south North Alley. abundant end of With later Methodist Episcopal Church history of Owens Hotel Liverpool as additions, (No. 14 on the map) Liverpool (No. 5 on the map) part of the Liverpool grew can be studies for to include what absorbed the improvements to Routes 11/15. Infor- is now Liberty by strolling mation from this site will contribute to our Street and the the av- understanding of the prehistory of Pennsyl- land immedi- enues of vania and the Northest United States. ately north of anals in Pennsylvania were the former Liberty Street. increasing in importance canal C during the early decades of the town. nineteenth century. In 1824, ground was broken for the Pennsylvania Canal that uring the first twenty years of would connect Philadelphia and n 1682, William Penn founded the Pittsburgh. In 1831, the Susquehanna colony of Pennsylvania. Gradually, the nineteenth century, heavy traffic along the river hauled Division of the Pennsylvania Canal was European settlement spread west- D completed and stretched 39 miles from I lumber, coal, and grain downstream. On ong before the establishment ward. By 1800, the state contained 25 the return trip, these boars carried finished the point where the Juniata and of Liverpool, Native Ameri- counties and the number of towns and Susquehanna Rivers met to cans lived along the villages in the state continued to increase goods. Because the river level was too low L in the summer and autumn for large Northumberland, located approximately Susquehanna River. Mobile hunters, at a rapid pace. 24 miles north of Liverpool. This canal known as Paleoindians, the earliest river-craft, goods were transported mostly in the spring. During these early years, a not only served local and regional inhabitants, arrived 12,000 years ago or needs, but by connecting to the main more. At that time, glaciers covered two-mile long row of rafts moored on the river was not an uncommon sight in canal line, could carry goods to and much of what is now northern Pennsyl- from faraway destinations. vania; the climate was cool and wet, Liverpool. An alternate form of transporta- tion that would decrease congestion on the Route 11/15 was constructed over the he canal generated new such as the United Brethren Church and anals that had been bringing canal. With new jobs related to the economic opportunities in the German Reformed Church, both on goods to the region were soon service industries along the highway, TLiverpool for teamsters, boat- Pine Street, and the Methodist Church on threatened by the development the population of Liverpool began to builders, boatmen, and longshore- C of railroads. In 1858, the Sunbury and grow. Today the borough has about men. The village grew and was Erie Railroad bought the Susquehanna 1,000 incorporated as a borough in 1832. In Division of the Canal and continued to resi- 1840, the population of Liverpool was operate it, since early trains were not dents. 451. Twenty years later, the population strong enough to move heavy cargo such had grown to 662. Walking down the as coal. As technology improved and street, one could see new buildings trains could carry heavier loads, canals iverpoo’sl everywhere. S. Shuler operated a dry- gradually growth goods and fell out of and grocery favor as the L store on preferred devel- Front mode of Trinity Evangelical Street Second Empire House transporta- Lutheran Church while J. (No. 2 on the map) tion. The (No. 9 on the map) Holman Susquehanna had a store Market Street, were quickly growing in Canal on the number. Liverpool had become a boom ceased opment was closely tied to corner of town. operations the Susquehanna Division of Race and at the turn the Pennsylvania Canal for most of Market of the the 19th century. Although the Streets. century. physical vestiges of the canal The otable residents of Liverpool With the structure are now under the road, Owens included the Shuler brothers. closing of the canal, jobs directly and the history of Liverpool is witnessed Hotel and indirectly related to the canal declined in The three brothers, Joseph, through the buildings in the John N Liverpool and Perry County. Some of John, and Samuel, created a name for Shanks Hotel were constructed along borough that continue to evoke the themselves locally by designing their these jobs were in the lumber industry Front Street. Dr. T. D. Morris had a feeling of a canal town. On the own long, single-barrel rifle. Today, that supplied the wood for canal boats. practice on Front Street while John reverse side is a suggested walking Shuler rifles are difficult to find and are Agriculture in the region also declined Monroe was employed as a portrait tour that will lead you through prized by collectors. Another prominent because it became more expensive for painter on Market Street. Other ser- resident, Dr. Elizabeth Reifsnyder, was a goods to be sent to market. In 1880, the historic Liverpool. vices were provided by P. Williamson, pioneer medical Missionary in China for population of Liverpool numbered 838; a carpenter, and by George Snyder, the 30 years before returning to Liverpool however, by 1920, the borough’s popula- local tanner. Homes and churches, where she died in 1922. tion had fallen to 586. In the 1950’s, he following takes you on a 5.) The Owens Hotel is an example of 9.) The Trinity Evangelical Lutheran 13.) Across the street is a large walking tour of present-day Italianate (1840-1885) architecture, Church was constructed in 1882, Italianate structure that served as TLiverpool. Because of the canal, characterized by the long windows replacing an earlier structure at J. Holman’s store on the corner of Liverpool was full of businesses, and the brackets under the eaves of another location in town. The Rece and Market Streets. The homes, churches, and schools. In the the roof. The hotel is now an apart- church is now Landmark Apart- cupola on the roof is another 1870s and 1880s, the town appeared ment building. ments. characteristic of the Italianate geographically much the same as it style. Today, it serves as a resi- does today. Although the canal is no 6.) These attached Greek Revival (1825- 10.) This Italianate residence was the dence. longer present, many of the buildings 1860) residences are defined by their home of Dr. Reifsnyder. Although constructed during its peak are still six-over-six windows and frieze the brackets are no longer present, 14.) This Gothic Revival structure is the standing. windows at the top. traces of them can be seen under Methodist Episcopal Church the eaves. The ornate window constructed in 1877. This building 1.) This stable was constructed during 7.) This residence is in the Federal style hoods are another characteristic of replaced an earlier church that the canal period and would have (1780-1820). The fanlight is one of its the Italianate style. was built on this site in 1858. been located on the bank of the defining features. It is one of canal. At one time, it might have Liverpool’s oldest buildings. 11.) The Evangelical Church, constructed 15.) The high school was constructed been associated with a store that in 1867, is Greek Revival in style in 1876, and is a combination of was on the same property.