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Civil War Blog

A project of PA Historian

Gratz During the Civil War – Rudolph Dornheim Properties

| September 22, 2011

The house on Lots #93 and #95 at the most western end of Gratz was one of the newest houses in Gratz at the time of the Civil War. One of the first owners of the property was William Weidel, a potter.  He and his brother George Weidel (1784-1856) , also a potter, were early […]

Gratz During the Civil War – Henry M. Witmer, Saddle & Harness Maker

| September 21, 2011

In the years before the Civil War and in the years following the war in which veterans returned and lived in Gratz, this property, known as Lot #42 on the original Simon Gratz subdivision, was owned by three families.  Each of the families had a number of Civil War veterans who were associated with it.  […]

Gratz During the Civil War – Henry Kauderman, Boot and Shoe Maker

| September 20, 2011

The original owner of this lot was probably Samuel Dubendorf and the house that is here was probably built before 1828.  Dubendorf sold the property to Henry Schreiner in 1830.  In 1838, Henry Schreiner sold this property to Abraham Hess.  Hess was a shoemaker and probably built the shop building that still stands today adjacent […]

Gratz During the Civil War – John Hummel, Tinsmith

| September 19, 2011

The first owner of this original Simon Gratz lot was Jacob Sierer (or Seara) who purchased it in 1816.  The house was built sometime between the land purchase and 1820.  From 1825 to 1849, the property was owned by Martin Moyer, but he did not live here, preferring instead to rent to tenants.  In the […]

Gratz During the Civil War – Leonard Reedy House

| September 18, 2011

Leonard Reedy (1776-1837) purchased this property from Simon Gratz in 1818.  He had been living on the property for about two years, so the earliest parts of the present house probably date to 1816.  Reedy was a gunsmith and was well known throughout the region.  After Leonard’s death, his widow Elizabeth continued to live here, […]