Sturgeon House

Sturgeon House is a Federal-style residence in Fairview Township featuring a saltbox design with characteristic long sloping roof and early American building techniques. The structure includes a southern addition built in the 1850s that extended the original early 19th-century construction.

Samuel C. Sturgeon built this residence in 1838 after his family had established coach stops and taverns along the early trading route between Erie and Cleveland. The 1850s addition to the structure likely reflected the family's expanding circumstances during that period.

The house reveals how early settlers organized their living spaces, with rooms arranged to reflect 19th-century family routines and work patterns. The kitchen placement and room sizes show what daily activities mattered most to households of that era.

The residence is operated as a museum by the Fairview Area Historical Society and can be reached by way of Avonia Road. Expect tight quarters inside with narrow doorways and lower ceilings typical of 19th-century construction, which may require some care when moving through the rooms.

The saltbox design is uncommon in northwestern Pennsylvania, representing an architectural tradition more closely tied to New England settlements. This unusual choice for the region suggests the Sturgeon family may have had ties to northern areas beyond the immediate region.

Location: Fairview Township

Inception: 1838

Architectural style: Federal architecture, saltbox

Address: 102 South Garwood Street

GPS coordinates: 42.02861,-80.25389

Latest update: December 14, 2025 17:03