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304 East Main Street |
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On this lot once sat a home built by Henry H Kreider, who also built the home at 304 E. Main Street. Henry's younger brother, Andrew Kreider, lived across the street (at 244 E. Main), and his older brother, Joseph H. Kreider, lived "kitty corner" (at 243 E. Main). Half-sister Lydia was not far away (at 327 E. Main). |
From left: Joseph H. Kreider, David Kreider Jr., Henry H. Kreider, Andrew Kreider and Aaron S. Kreider (Biographical Annals of Lebanon County by J.H. Beers, 1904). |
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H.H. Kreider's residence on East Main Street in 1888. |
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When the house at 304 E. Main was completed, Henry left the house at 308 to his son Morris. The new home is remembered for being one of the first in Annville to have electric lighting in one of its rooms. H. H. had connected wires to the trolley lines that ran in front of the house as a source of electricity. It is said that the lighting worked fine until the trolley used extra power on its route to go up a hill. When that happened, the Kreider home became dark. |
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Ironically, it was electricity that eventually became the ruin of the house. In 2000 the building burned to the ground as a result of an electrical fire. The system, it seems, had not been properly maintained over the years. |
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The following information about Henry H. Kreider is drawn from pages 328-329 of the Biographical Annals of Lebanon County and pages 45-48 of Installment 8 of The History of the Kreider Family from the Pen of Rev. J.G. Francis (June 16, 1919). Among its fascinations are the number of relatives who lived within a block of each other on East Main Street in Annville.
Henry H. Kreider was born on a farm in South Annville
township on September 30, 1835, a son of David and Sarah (Henry) Kreider. Jacob married Mary Stauffer, daughter of Abraham Stauffer, of a prominent family of Lancaster county. Nine children were born to them as follows: Elizabeth, David, Joseph, Michael, Nancy, Susan, Kate, Mary, and Lydia. David Kreider (1803-1871), the father of Henry, was born about two and one-half miles southwest of the city of Lebanon. David had ten children who lived to adulthood, having five children with each of two wives. His first wife, Sarah (Henry) Kreider (1808-1851), was born in Palmyra. Their children were as follows: Andrew Kreider, who lived from July 18, 1828 to July 1916 (see 244 East Main Street); David, born December 11, 1832; Henry H., who lived from September 30, 1835 - August 19, 1916 (see 304 and 308 East Main Street); Maria ("Mary"), born on June 4, 1838, married Abraham M. Brightbill; and Joseph H., born January 23, 1841. David Kreider's second wife, Magdalena Shenk, was born in Dauphin county. The children of this union were: Elizabeth Shenk Kreider, born August 25, 1855; Daniel Shenk Kreider, who lived from October 17, 1856 - July 7, 1893; Lydia Shenk Kreider, who lived from 1857-1935; the wife of Henry Kettering (see 327 East Main Street); Annie, born November 18, 1858; and Aaron Shenk Kreider., born June 26, 1863. |
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Anyone with pictures or drawings of the home that once stood on this lot are asked to contact the Webmaster. Thank you! |
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