Watercolor on paper, showing a building called the Telescope House or the Steamboat House. It has a two-story octagonal center section, and two one-story wings; the center section has a cupola (also octagonal). The building has a frame construction, and is colored brown with ivory-white trim. A high fence extends across the front of the building. Various trees are visible behind the building. NOT FOUND IN BOX 0066, July 2023
The caption at the bottom reads "THE TELESCOPE HOUSE,--BUILT BY JOHN F. REMLEY. 1841-8/COLUMBIA AVN. & MARIETTA PIKE." The lower right corner has the date of the painting, "1881"
The building stood approximately where W. King and W. Orange Streets meet. The name "Telescope House" comes from the fact that the house used to have an observatory until the late 1800s, when the building was renovated and additional floors were added (prior to this painting).
J.W.W. Loose, The Heritage of Lancaster, pp.74-75.
Height (cm)
15.24
Height (ft)
0.5
Height (in)
6
Width (cm)
17.78
Width (ft)
0.5833333333
Width (in)
7
Dimension Details
Hinged within a window mat..
Condition
Good
Condition Date
2017-06-28
Condition Notes
There are numerous gray marks over the surface of the painting, and some areas of paint are faded. The reverse has glue stains on the corners, where the painting was apparently attached to a previous backing.
The piece is currently float-mounted in hinged window matting.
Object ID
P.77.31.11
Place of Origin
Lancaster
Role
Artist
Credit
Acquired through the generosity of the James Hale Steinman Foundation, Heritage Center Collection
Stevens House Hotel - opened November 19, 1874 as New Hotel. Christopher Hager moved to get place for traveling salesmen to stay in downtown Lancaster. He sponsored a public stock sale and name of hotel to be person responsible for most stock sales. There was a dry goods merchant at 21 E. King Street - Hoar & McNabb (c. 1872 to 1898) - was Joseph Hoar, and when stockholder voted they voted to call it after Thaddeus Stevens. In 1917 Ralph Alexander bought out participants and subsequently inherited by his daughter, Mabel Alexander Shoemaker. Torn down for apartment house during winter of 1963 - 1964.
Miss Druckenmiller seated in front of the Druckenmiller Home built shortly after the Civil War on the east side of North Lime between Walnut Street and the railroad.
