Shelter House

Shelter House is a historic home located at Emmaus, Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, believed to be the oldest continuously occupied structure in the Lehigh Valley, as well as the oldest building in Emmaus.

Shelter House
Shelter House, October 2012
Location601 S. 4th St.,
Emmaus, Pennsylvania
Coordinates40°31′50″N 75°29′6″W
Area1 acre (0.40 ha)
Builtc. 1734, 1741
Architectural styleGermanic log house
NRHP reference No.78002426[1]
Added to NRHPFebruary 17, 1978

History

The first floor was built around 1734 and in 1741, a three-room second story and a two-story annex were added. The house was built by early Pennsylvania German settlers, and is a medieval-type Germanic log house, made out of oak and chestnut, measuring approximately 40 feet by 25 feet. Mud, straw, and horse hair were used as the filling, or "chinking," in between the gaps in the log walls, providing protection and insulation from outside elements.[2] It has a gable roof and large, square stone chimney. The Shelter House got its name from the German word "zufluchtshaus," meaning "house of refuge or shelter."[3] The House is situated in a clearing of woods along a well-traveled Indian path and often served as a stopover for travelers. The house was inhabited when conflicts in the area could have been with the British or the Native Americans. Many years later after the founding of Emmaus, the House became a sort of hostel, a tavern where the wayfarer could find lodging, food, and drink.[4]

In 1952, the cabin was purchased at a public sale by a group of preservationists who raised $35,000 to stabilize and restore the structure and its grounds.

In 1963, the Borough of Emmaus assumed ownership of the property, while the Shelter House Society continues with the responsibility of maintenance and preservation.

It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978.[1]

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References
  1. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  2. "The Shelter House: A Place of Refuge Since 1734". Emmaus, PA Patch. 2011-08-09. Retrieved 2020-02-02.
  3. "Shelter House Society at MuseumsUSA.org". www.museumsusa.org. Retrieved 2020-02-02.
  4. c95992x1. "Shelter House". Emmaus Public Library. Retrieved 2020-02-02.


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