March 5, 2020
ARCHITECTURE
The house is a five-bay brick home, built in a vernacular Federal style, and has a center hall floor plan. The front facade is symmetrical in form, with an arched entry, and a plain glass fanlight, which may have been a replacement of the original Colonial style fanlight. The masonry is laid in a Flemish Bond pattern typical of Federal style homes in Pennsylvania, with dentil details at the cornice. The windows feature flat lintels with bull’s eye corners. The house features a side gable roof, with chimneys at both ends. The left chimney was capped at the roof presumably many years ago. There is a back wing addition, which was likely added not long after the main house was constructed, given the similar architectural details, such as the Flemish Bond masonry, dentils at the cornice, and the matching interior details. The 1854 Thomas Doran map of Kittanning shows the addition. The current configuration of the house includes a two story enclosed porch along the full length of the addition, which was originally an open porch, as indicated on the 1886 Kittanning Sanborn map.
The interior of the house features a center hall plan and original staircase, which is rather austere in design. Five original mantels survive. The original six-panel interior doors, plaster walls, some hardware, original moldings and baseboards, and wood floors also survive. The basement is a dirt floor cellar with stone walls. The addition is built on a crawlspace with stone walls. While the house was converted to law office use in about 1978, the only notable modifications to the original layout of the house were seen in the two story enclosed porch, which became a waiting room (first floor) and legal library (second floor). The main rooms of the house were altered by minor cosmetic details, such as drop ceilings, wall to wall carpet, and ceramic tile. Fortunately, the original moldings, doors, mantels, wood floors, and other details were retained, if sometimes obscured by layers of modern “updates.”
LOCATION
The house is located in a village setting, on an ample corner lot at the intersection of S. McKean and Jacob Streets, in downtown Kittanning, Pennsylvania. This intersection is shown on the original 1803 plan of Kittanning. The house is walkable to the main business district of the town, as well as the riverfront park, courthouse, cemetery, and library. The lot features a large Magnolia tree, as well as a white picket fence along the side facing S. McKean Street. The side facing Jacob Street features a brick sidewalk, likely dating to the 19th century, and a hedge. Affixed to the corner of the house are two very old cast iron street signs, designating Jacob and McKean Streets. Off the rear alley is a gravel driveway.
The location is notable as the site of the Native American village of Kittanning, and the Battle of Kittanning in 1756, during the French and Indian War. The village was inhabited by the Delaware and Shawnee Indians.
THE SCOTT FAMILY
The deeds were traced back to the earliest owners of the property. In 1827, John and Anne Mechling sold the property to Isaac Scott for the sum of $99. The small amount suggests that there was no structure on the lot as of that date. On the 1854 Thomas Doran map of Kittanning (the earliest map identifying structures), the structure is indicated at the intersection of Jacob and McKean, with the owner listed as “I. Scott.” In researching the deeds, Scott would sell the house to Jonathan E. Meredith in 1855.
Knowing that the house existed in 1854, under the name of "I. Scott," and knowing that the house was built in the Federal style, it is likely that the home was built by Scott not long after 1827. The Federal style was going out of fashion, and if built much later, would probably have some Greek Revival influence in its design.
Two books assisted in the research of the Scott Family. The first book was The History of Armstrong County by Robert Walker Smith (1883). The other was Armstrong County, Pennsylvania by J. H. Beers & Co. (1914). Both of these works are available to read online. Also assisting in my research of the Scott Family was Sharon Burgraff Scott. She is married to a descendant of Isaac’s son, James Scott, and has researched the family extensively.
The following is a brief passage about Isaac Scott from Armstrong County, Pennsylvania: “Isaac Scott was a prominent man of Kittanning in his day, one of the early postmasters at that borough. He was an aide to his relative, Gen. Winfield Scott, in the War of 1812; he was a large powerful man. His wife's maiden name was Spangler.”
According to The History of Armstrong County, Scott had a pottery business in town. He was also a postmaster, and a borough councilman. His wife was Catherine (Spangler) Scott. He would remarry after Catherine’s death in 1838. His second wife was Rosannah (Cowan) Scott. Isaac Scott would live until 1865. He is buried in Crossroads Cemetery (Dayton, PA) with Catherine, and his son, James, who died in 1842 at age 20.
Of interest is the passing of Catherine Scott in 1838, four years before the untimely death of her son James in 1842. The causes of death are unknown. It seems there was a tragic romance in the Scott family. James’s child, Zacharia, was born by Polly Anthony after his death. James had died before they were married. This information was provided to me by Sharon Burgraff Scott, who traced her husband’s family back to James Scott. In the 1842 baptismal record, Polly Anthony listed James Scott as Zacharia’s father.
The following excerpt from The History of Armstrong County illustrates something of the era in which the Scott family lived in the house, and references a 4th of July celebration that occurred there: "The old-time non-partisan celebrations were in vogue after 1826. In 1840, however, the day was observed by the Whig and Democratic parties separately. The former had a large convention of members of that party from all parts of the county. Their log cabin was situated in the grove on the hill east of the court-house, where Mrs. Colwell now lives. Party spirit ran high. The chief marshal on that occasion informed the writer that fears were entertained that the cabin would be destroyed by some of the other party, at least it was so intimated. The Whigs, therefore, placed a strong military guard, with loaded arms, around it, the night before the Fourth. On Friday night, the 4th, it and the grounds were occupied by the Whigs, and brilliantly lighted. Thither marched a large procession, in which were several veterans of the revolutionary and Indian wars, and the war of 1812. By prearrangement the Democrats had a celebration and dinner of their own. The dinner was at the Mansion House on Jefferson street, then kept by Thomas H. Caldwell. The Independent Blues, Capt. Rowlands, and some citizens observed the day in a non-partisan way by a parade and a dinner at Isaac Scott's, and an oration by the late Thomas McIlhenny."
On the 1850 census, Isaac Scott (55) is documented as living in the household with his second wife, Rosannah Scott (46), Amy Seaghley (22), Jane Cowan (8), and Frederich Witt (22). Frederich is listed as a “merchant” and Isaac is listed as “postmaster.” The value of Isaac Scott’s real estate is listed as $3000.
Isaac Scott was a veteran of the War of 1812. According to records sent to me by Sharon Burgraff Scott, he applied for a bounty (land). He sold his house to Jonathan E. Meredith in 1855, which is documented in the deed.
THE MEREDITH FAMILY
In 1855, the house passed to another prominent person of early Kittanning, Jonathan E. Meredith. The following brief biography of Meredith is courtesy of the Pennsylvania State Senate website: “Father of Senator William Boling Meredith… Hon. Jonathan Meredith… was born December 11, 1810. He came to Kittanning in 1836, where he died March 11, 1888. He followed surveying, and was a strong whig. He was elected, in 1845, again in 1848 and a third time in 1857, as prothonotary by majorities of over 1,000 when the county was democratic. He was an Odd Fellow and Mason, served one term as a member of the State Senate, and married Caroline McKee, by whom he had two sons and two daughters. Died March 11, 1888.”
Meredith’s two sons, Philander and William B., served in the 22nd Regiment during the Civil War. Jonathan served one term as State Senator during the Civil War. Philander is noted as living in the household on the 1870 census (27 years-old). Also on the 1870 census are Meredith’s two daughters, Lydia (28) and Emily (20), and his wife, Caroline (52).
The following is a brief biography of William Boling Meredith, also courtesy of the Pennsylvania State Senate website: “William B. Meredith received his education in Kittanning and Elder's Ridge academies and Jefferson college, from which he was graduated in the class of 1860. During the late war he was assessor of internal revenue and operated in oil. For over fourteen years he was secretary and treasurer of the Armstrong water company, besides being interested in water works in Butler, Warren, Westmoreland and Greene counties. A republican, and frequent delegate to State conventions and in 1884 was elected as a member of the State senate. He was presbyterian and a thirty-third degree Mason. On June 23, 1868, he married Eliza M., youngest daughter of Alex. Colwell. Senator and Mrs. Meredith had two children: Margaret Colwell and Edith Caroline McKee. Son of Senator Jonathan Meredith. Born September 17, 1839, Kittanning.”
Members of the Meredith Family would own the house for decades. It was eventually sold during the Depression, in 1939, to Ray and Bernice Dosch. Emily Meredith, daughter of Jonathan E. Meredith, died in 1923. This is an excerpt from her obituary (The Kittanning Times, 2-23-1923): "After a lingering illness, with occasional periods of convalescence, Miss Emily Meredith died on Thursday afternoon, February 22, 1923, at 2:15 o'clock. She was born June 22, 1850 and lived in Kittanning all her life. Miss Meredith was constitutionally weak and having a shy and retiring disposition, she was not conspicuous in the public walks of life, but within the smaller circle of her relatives and intimate friends 'none knew her but to love her. None named her but to praise...' The death of her beloved sister Mrs. Lydia Schotte less than three months ago was a hard blow from which she never recovered although she made a strong effort to get well. Everything that medical science and the love of ministering friends could do was done but she simply was not able to rally and so peacefully "fell on sleep." One brother, Hon. W. B. Meredith and three nieces survive: Mrs. J. M. Clayland and the Misses Alice and Nana Meredith. Funeral services in her late home on Saturday afternoon, February 24 at 3 o'clock p.m."
THE DOSCH FAMILY
In researching the deeds, the house was sold from the Meredith estate to Ray and Bernice Dosch in 1939. Ray died in 1974, and Bernice passed away in 1986. They are buried together in Kittanning Cemetery.
The following is from Ray Dosch’s obituary: “Ray (Toots) Dosch, 84 year-old retired drayman of Kittanning and a 65-year member of Kittanning No. 1 Hose Company…Mr. Dosch, a resident of 201 S. McKean St., retired in 1961 after serving ten years as caretaker of Kittanning Borough Riverfront Park. Before that he was in partnership for 50 years with a brother, in operation of a dray business here. He was a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church, Kittanning. Mr. Dosch was born Nov. 11, 1889 in Kittanning, a son of John and Ora (Mains) Dosch. Surviving relatives in addition to his wife, the former Bernice Lutterbach, are a daughter, Mrs. C. Arthur Mattax of Kittanning, two grandchildren and four great grandchildren.” On the 1940 census, listed in the household with Ray (50) and Bernice Dosch (41) are: Arthur Mattax (21), Betty Mattax (21), Peter Mattax (2), and Susan Mattax (0).
In 1978, the house passed from Bernice Dosch to Jerome Lombardi and George Kepple, and a series of lawyers who owned the home as a group, and operated law offices out of the building.
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