Erisman House Lancaster, PA
Landis Valley Village and Farm Museum
In 1962 Landis Valley Museum rescued this Lancaster City log house from demolition and moved it to the museum. The city had not yet created today's preservation ordinances to keep this historic building on its original site.
The house was built in the 1700s. It had been home to the Erisman family for over 100 years.
Michael Erisman and wife Catherine (Herpil) Erisman were the first Erismans to live in this home, beginning in 1829. Michael was a carpenter and helped build St. Mary's Catholic Church, Grace Lutheran Church, and the courthouse.
Their son Emmanuel John Erisman lived here next, with wife Mary (Kline) Erisman. Emmanuel owned a clothing store in Lancaster, and was a shirtmaker by trade.
The family descends from immigrant Melchior Erisman (ca. 1699 - 1740). He was a Swiss Mennonite who apparently emigrated to Lancaster via the Palatinate, Germany.
Craftsmen moved the house from 315 W. Orange Street (see second photo). They restored it at the museum with careful attention to detail. The original floorplan was preserved. All the first-floor trim was preserved. No partitions were moved. Three of the four downstairs floors are original. Door latches are original.
Image: Landis Valley Village and Farm Museum
