April 2024 - The 1805 brick Hickrote House is currently FOR SALE; these historic, intact properties rarely come to the market. I hope someone with vision and the desire to restore it takes this on and treats it right; it could be a stunner.
On the south side of West Potomac, next to the M&T Bank (formerly the Van Lear Mansion), sits a federal-style, two-and-a-half, three-bay brick house with a Flemish bond facade and a parapet. This house sits on the eastern portion of original lot 18, first leased by Otho Holland Williams to his brother Elie in 1790. On the western portion of the same lot sits the 1789 Elie Williams stone house, one of Williamsport's earliest dated structures.
Elie, the original owner of lot 18, had already constructed a remarkable stone house by 1790 when he leased the lot. The date stone in the attic of the stone house reads 1789 (although Elie likely started building as early as 1787). Interestingly, when George Washington visited Williamsport in 1790 to survey sites for the new capitol, he would have passed this building; only a few buildings in the town remain that can prove that.
In the late 19th century, owners gave it a faux brick facade, and Italianate brackets were added to the cornice, altering its appearance. An inspired owner could easily revert this modification if they wished to return it to its 1780s Georgian appearance. The late 19th-century accretions were nothing more than keeping up with the Jones to make it look more fashionable. In 1795, Elie sold the property to Henry Hickrote for a staggering 620 pounds, a significant sum compared to other properties; for example, log houses sold for 80 pounds.
After purchasing the Elie Williams stone house at 24 W Potomac, Henry, and Elizabeth Hickrote built the brick house now for sale in about 1805. They built the brick dwelling attached to the eastern side of their stone home. They probably built it for their son John and his family. After Henry died in 1807, the Hickrotes sold the property with both houses to Leonard Shafer for $1250, a massive amount of money. Shafer also unexpectedly died in 1807, and in 1813, his estate sold the property to Matthew Van Lear. Van Lear was a wealthy landowner who lived at Mount Tammany Mansion outside Williamsport. Over the next century, the house changed hands several times when Frank and Airy Ardinger purchased it in 1937; the C and P Phone Company, Williamsport’s first telephone service, had their switchboard here at 22 W Potomac Street. The home then belonged to the Harsh Family. Mrs. Louise Harsh and her niece Louise Corby were the switchboard operators. Harsh was the operator who received the calls on 4/11/1935 after the bus accident, and who rang Dr. Zimmerman. The telephone switchboard would have been on the lower floor. The property was eventually split up and turned into several rental units, but it could easily be converted into a beautiful single-family house again.
Today, the historic house fortunately still retains much of its historic character. These attributes include its gorgeous staircase with a beautiful railing, built-in chimney cupboards, random-width pine floors, original trim, and doors with some old hardware. With some grit and elbow grease, this wonderful house could once again shine like the hidden gem that it is. One could use a facade grant or the county's newly passed 25% preservation credits to help fix this beauty up to its former glory and join Williamsport's exciting, ongoing revitalization.
