32 South Prince St. Lancaster, PA
This was the home of George Steinman (1847 – 1920). He was a wealthy bachelor historian / hardware-store owner. He was Lancaster’s premier historian and antiquarian of his era. For generations his Steinman relatives had owned the region’s leading hardware business and newspaper-publishing companies. Mr. Steinman owned Steinman Hardware Store, where today’s Pressroom Restaurant is located.
He was president of the Lancaster County Historical Society for 21 years, from 1896 to 1917. He also was an organizer of the Hamilton Club, and was a trustee of Lancaster Moravian Church where his Steinman relatives were longtime members.
Mr. Steinman shared his home here with his two sisters: unmarried sister Mary E. Steinman, and widow Sarah M. Franklin. He never married. He willed most of his estate to his sister Mary Steinman.
The house was built ca. 1854 – 1858 for banker George K. Reed. Mr. Steinman’s father, George M. Steinman, next purchased this house in 1866. Historian George Steinman then lived here until his passing in 1920. His extraordinary collection of historic Lancaster documents and photographs is preserved at LancasterHistory, where he was president for many years.
The house is an early example of Italianate architecture in Lancaster. It has segmental arched windows with stone caps, round-arched central entry with fanlight and sidelights, a bracketed cornice, and a stone water table.