Page 158 - History of UB Church in Hburg Region
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History of U.B. Churches in Harrisonburg-Staunton Region December 26, 2024
the lots in the last few years of the 19th century. The string of frame houses built here between 1895
and 1900 are among the most stylish houses in Dayton, boasting irregular forms, elaborate sawn and
carved trim, and some shingled walls and gables. The Perry Heatwole House and the Carver House, two
of the best examples, have been altered very little since their construction.
Joseph Shrum purchased the old Coffman House in this subdivision in 1898 and along with his
two brothers opened a brickyard in the adjacent lots to the south, 140 and 130 Main Street. This new
enterprise influenced local building by making bricks both more accessible and more affordable. The
Shrum brothers built the two brick houses now on the site of the former brickyard, as well as a number
of other brick houses in Dayton in the early 20th century.
By far the largest turn-of-the-century developments occurred west of High and Main streets, on
the hill which rises gently over the older part of town. Hiram Coffman had owned a 212-acre farm on
the south and west sides of Dayton in the 19th century. To settle his estate in 1889, the farm was
divided into several tracts. George Hedrick, a prominent local businessman, proved instrumental in the
acquisition and development of two of these tracts. In 1891, Hedrick purchased a tract comprising the
western extension of Mill Street, from the school lot, to Summit Street, and the northern portion of East
View Street. Hedrick also presided over the Dayton Land and Improvement Company, which purchased
an “L”-shaped parcel in 1905, containing the southern end of East View Street, Thompson Street, and
five remaining lots on the west side of South Main Street.
Hedrick began selling lots in his own tract in the 1890s. Mill Street was soon lined with modest-
sized frame houses, considerably smaller than those on College, High, or Main streets. Many followed
local vernacular forms, utilizing two-story, single-pile blocks, with two-room plans, and occasionally a
rear kitchen extension. Others adapted the plans more specifically to the narrow town lots, with a
narrow, two-story, one-room-wide house, two rooms deep, with a one-story shed kitchen. A few other
even smaller one-story designs were built, such as the Jozie Butzler House or the Warnie Lambert
House. Since most of the Mill Street lots were developed at the turn of the century, 1890-1910, there are
few breaks in the streetscape and only one contemporary intrusion.
In contrast to these smaller frame houses, three rather pretentious houses highlight this
subdivision. Situated at the top of the hill at Mill Street is “Grand View,” receiving its name from the
spectacular view it commands of the surrounding town and countryside. Although basically a
vernacular double-pile, central-passage plan, the hilltop setting, raised basement, wraparound porches,
and bay windows reveal an attempt to distinguish this house from its neighbors. The Hedrick and
Stauffer houses on the west side of East View Street, again overlooking the town, illustrate the eclectic
styles both in plan and decoration. The northern portion of East View Street was never as extensively
developed at the turn of the century as Mill Street. Only a few houses were built here, and these were
generally larger and not as closely packed as those on Mill Street, with vacant lots serving as buffer
spaces. Out of thirteen lots, only seven were developed during these days.
The Dayton Land and Improvement Company land has been developed gradually throughout the
20th century, with the greatest percentage of houses being built between 1910 and 1930. This
subdivision contains a greater variety of styles ranging from I-houses; square double-pile, central-
passage plans; and irregular “T”-shaped three-room plans to 20th-century bungalows and foursquare
designs. The large number of brick residences can be attributed to the Shrum Brothers, whose business
was flourishing during these years.
More recent, mid-20th-century structures line Thompson Street and Elm Lane. Most of the
houses along Thompson Street are smaller, frame houses, influenced by the Cape Cod design. Carter
Shanholtzer, a local contractor, built several of these houses, along with his house on neighboring
Mason Street and his shop on nearby Elm Lane. Perhaps the most intrusive buildings in this part of
II.B.14 Dayton U.B. Church and SCI 144
the lots in the last few years of the 19th century. The string of frame houses built here between 1895
and 1900 are among the most stylish houses in Dayton, boasting irregular forms, elaborate sawn and
carved trim, and some shingled walls and gables. The Perry Heatwole House and the Carver House, two
of the best examples, have been altered very little since their construction.
Joseph Shrum purchased the old Coffman House in this subdivision in 1898 and along with his
two brothers opened a brickyard in the adjacent lots to the south, 140 and 130 Main Street. This new
enterprise influenced local building by making bricks both more accessible and more affordable. The
Shrum brothers built the two brick houses now on the site of the former brickyard, as well as a number
of other brick houses in Dayton in the early 20th century.
By far the largest turn-of-the-century developments occurred west of High and Main streets, on
the hill which rises gently over the older part of town. Hiram Coffman had owned a 212-acre farm on
the south and west sides of Dayton in the 19th century. To settle his estate in 1889, the farm was
divided into several tracts. George Hedrick, a prominent local businessman, proved instrumental in the
acquisition and development of two of these tracts. In 1891, Hedrick purchased a tract comprising the
western extension of Mill Street, from the school lot, to Summit Street, and the northern portion of East
View Street. Hedrick also presided over the Dayton Land and Improvement Company, which purchased
an “L”-shaped parcel in 1905, containing the southern end of East View Street, Thompson Street, and
five remaining lots on the west side of South Main Street.
Hedrick began selling lots in his own tract in the 1890s. Mill Street was soon lined with modest-
sized frame houses, considerably smaller than those on College, High, or Main streets. Many followed
local vernacular forms, utilizing two-story, single-pile blocks, with two-room plans, and occasionally a
rear kitchen extension. Others adapted the plans more specifically to the narrow town lots, with a
narrow, two-story, one-room-wide house, two rooms deep, with a one-story shed kitchen. A few other
even smaller one-story designs were built, such as the Jozie Butzler House or the Warnie Lambert
House. Since most of the Mill Street lots were developed at the turn of the century, 1890-1910, there are
few breaks in the streetscape and only one contemporary intrusion.
In contrast to these smaller frame houses, three rather pretentious houses highlight this
subdivision. Situated at the top of the hill at Mill Street is “Grand View,” receiving its name from the
spectacular view it commands of the surrounding town and countryside. Although basically a
vernacular double-pile, central-passage plan, the hilltop setting, raised basement, wraparound porches,
and bay windows reveal an attempt to distinguish this house from its neighbors. The Hedrick and
Stauffer houses on the west side of East View Street, again overlooking the town, illustrate the eclectic
styles both in plan and decoration. The northern portion of East View Street was never as extensively
developed at the turn of the century as Mill Street. Only a few houses were built here, and these were
generally larger and not as closely packed as those on Mill Street, with vacant lots serving as buffer
spaces. Out of thirteen lots, only seven were developed during these days.
The Dayton Land and Improvement Company land has been developed gradually throughout the
20th century, with the greatest percentage of houses being built between 1910 and 1930. This
subdivision contains a greater variety of styles ranging from I-houses; square double-pile, central-
passage plans; and irregular “T”-shaped three-room plans to 20th-century bungalows and foursquare
designs. The large number of brick residences can be attributed to the Shrum Brothers, whose business
was flourishing during these years.
More recent, mid-20th-century structures line Thompson Street and Elm Lane. Most of the
houses along Thompson Street are smaller, frame houses, influenced by the Cape Cod design. Carter
Shanholtzer, a local contractor, built several of these houses, along with his house on neighboring
Mason Street and his shop on nearby Elm Lane. Perhaps the most intrusive buildings in this part of
II.B.14 Dayton U.B. Church and SCI 144
