Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-01-26
THE GOOD OLD TIMES.
Memories Revived by a Homestead
in TemperanceVille.
CAREER OF FREDERICK LERENz.
Visit to House He Built at the Begin
ming Of the Century.
THE QUAINT FURNITURE AND RELICS
WRITTEN FOR THE DISPATCH.

There are few, II any, now living who
were companions in boyhood and manhood
Of Frederick Lerenz, but there are, no
doubt, quite a number of the older genera
ton of this city, who, if they look back a
little, can recall some good times spent in
his old homestead situated in what is now
Temperanceville.
Mr.. Lerenz was born in Germany, and
came to Pittsburg years ago when very
young and poor boy. His first work was at
glass-blowing, and with that start he kept
on until, by his honesty and industry, he
founded the O'Hara glass factory, estab-
lished the mill now owned by Painter 8
Sons, and was one of the first directors of
the Pennsylvania and Ohio Railroad. At
the time of his death, which occurred in
1854, he was engaged In constructing the
mill at Gerty's Run, and had become one of
the most wealthy and influential men of the
city.
In 1900 Mr.. Lerenz bought the plantation
known as "Elliott's Delight" from Mr.. ".
Elliott, who was the original owner of Tenn
peranceville. The tract consisted of about
800 acres, part of which was forest. The
house, which is still standing, was situated
about mile from the cliff which oVerlooks
Charters, and stood in the midst of a corn
field. When the corn was in bloom all that
could be seen from the Steubenville pike
was a thin line of smoke which seemed to
come from the midst of the corn.
A oNE-RooMED HOUSE.
The house consisted of one large, low-ceil-
ing room with loft above and an out-shed
used as kitchen. When Mr.. LerenZ bought
the place he enlarged the house, or rather
the room, building the additions more for
convenience than looks, giving it a very
disjointed appearance. Several years after
this, or about IS years ago, he again en-
larged the house. or 1 should say built an
other house in front, for, excepting a YER
anda which stands between, the buildings
have no connection whatever. This verauda
is more like large square room than any
thing else, for houses form the walls on either
side, and the ends are inclosed by venItian |
doors. In contrast to the old part OF the |
house stands the newer building, tall and |
firm and square, with its immense rooms |
and wide halls running the whole length of |
the building. When Mr.. Lerenz built the |
last addition he proceeded to lay out the |
grounds in the most magnificent manner, |
cutting down the forest and planting all |
sorts of trees and fancy shrubs. From the |
house to the old turnpike extended a
wide drive with trees on either side, which, |
as the years went by, grew and arched over
head.
A TOWN ON THE LAWN.
Mrs. William Grace is the present owner |
Of the place. Her first husband was Fred |
rick Lerenz's oldest son. and since the death |
of her late husband, William Grace, she |
and her servant have lived here alone. Here |
the busy little town of Lerenzville has |
sprung up on what was once a lawn. The |
ward schoolhouSe now stands where the old |
gateway once was. The property has been |
sold off acre by acre and lot by lot until |
there is now only about six acres left. The |
fence is almost gone, tie wide walk or what |
is left of it, is now one wilderness of weeds |
There still stands few skeleton-like sticks
of the grand old arbor, and shrubbery is
running wild in every direction.
Seventy-fiVe years have effected little
change in the house, except to give 1t a
weather-beaten appearance. A broad flight
of steps leads to a small bslcony-like porch,
with similar one above. The old-fashioned
knocker does its work as well as ever, but
the old storm-doors creak and groan, as if
scolding for being molested in their old age.
They refuse to open, usually, so visitors are
directed around to side entrance under a
long, low, rambling porch almost hidden by
vines.
BEYOND THE CENTURY MARX.
The present dining room, or the one room
of the original house, which has stood for
no years, still clings to its old fire place
with its dog irons and crane, and with
spaces each side wide enough for seats. The
old moon-faced clock, which first ticked one
hundred years ago and more, stands quietly
in one corner, while in the opposite corner
is a cupboard filled with blue stone dishes, |
all cracked and scanned with age. In an
other part of the room stands the high side
board, or buffet, with its glittering old tea
pot and sugar bowl.
Mrs. Grace conducted the writer through
the connecting passage into the lower hall
Of the other part OF the building. The walls
of this hall are hung with firearms and
powder pouches of all kinds and descrip-
lions. Here are some old arms which can
boast of being in the Revolutionary war, as
we'll as the war of 1872, and in other places
hang old blunder buses and other horse
pistols. Here is an old arm which Mrs. Grace
says was carried by her grandfather while
cutting down trees to weather-board his
house, which was the first one ever weather.
boarded in this part OF the country.
At one end of the hall stands spinning
wheel Is feet in circumference. of from
he hall is the parlor with its quaint old
chairs arranged along the
vail in a row. Here also is the little old
piano more than a hundred years old,
which stood among the grand pianos at the
Exposition last tall.
OLD COINS AND RELICS.
In an adjacent room Is an old awkward
ooking cabinet filled with old coins and
elies OF all SORTS. A piece of the Plymouth
Rock and the signature of the Presidents
rom Taylor to Harrison are among its
reasures Near the fireplace stands another
with fax yellow with age on
he reel. Upstairs are numerous curious
hambers, with their high-posted beds. old
and queer little looking glasses.
"If these old walls could speak, )" said
drs. Grace, what tales of good old times
hey could tell. In a sort OF memorandum
elonging to old Mr.. Lerenz, which was
ooking through the other day. saw the
ames of some who were visitors here. The te
)ennys, Schenleys, Shoenbergers, Henry.
Y ood and others are recorded in it. The
Id walls would have their tales of trouble
nd sorrow to tell, too, for many the coffin
nat has passed beneath the doors"
It is an interesting old homestead and it
to be hoped it will Withstand the ravages
i the elements for years to come. ]. c.
RrFC4 W,a pills cura hi1iOus and narvOua lila