Page 158 - WPA Book
P. 158
Works Project Administration – Articles from Rockingham County
HOUSES
1. SUBJECT:
Effinger House.
2. LOCATION:
Corner Court Square and Graham Street, Harrisonburg, Virginia.
3. DATE:
1820.
4. OWNERS:
Thomas Harrison, inclusive survey, November 13, 1770, records obscure, burnt in 1864.
George W. Harrison from John Ewing, June 4, 1819, $1,000, BR.D.B. 4, page 192.
Dr. Peachy Harrison from George W. Harrison, September 1, 1820, $1,100, B.R.D.B. 5, page 171.
Mrs. Mary Effinger from Peachy Harrison’s executors, 1859, $4,000, B.R.D.B. 31, page 343.
Margaret L. Huston from Mary Effinger, January 1, 1868, $4,000, D.B. 3, page 104.
Mrs. Bettie S. Effinger from Margaret L. Huston, January 2, 1871, $4,350, D.B. 7, page 36.
P.W. Effinger, etc., from Mrs. Bettie S. Effinger, by inheritance.
E.B. Crawford from P.W.Effinger, $1, D.B. 111, page 13.
E.B. Crawford estate, present owner since 1927.
5. DESCRIPTION:
The house is built of brick laid in common bond and has three stories. There is a chimney on both ends.
The entrance with square transom, leads into a narrow hallway, having a flight of steps at the rear to the second
floor; it has a turned rail and square newel posts.
There are nine rooms and an attic. The upper floors are used as apartments and have been rather much abused in
later years; the doors are of pine and of the two and six panel style. There is nothing unusual or striking as to
hardware, woodwork, mantels, etc. Evidently the interior has been greatly changed in recent years.
6. HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE:
The house was built by Dr. Peachy Harrison in 1820. M. H. Effinger was connected with banking here in the
early days and was a man of affairs in the community. He later moved to Staunton and was the owner of much
real estate in Augusta County. Whether it was he who first owned the lot and built the house is not known.
Others of the Effingers were active in the business affairs of Harrisonburg and the county of Rockingham and it
may have been one of these who built the house.
The chief interest centering around this old place is the fact of the Effinger Store, the business having been
conducted in the street floor rooms for many years and known far and wide for the superior quality of the goods
sold and the excellent service rendered to its patrons. The “cheap and shoddy” had no place in the Effinger
store, and its merchandise was always to be relied upon. The business continued until about 1900, P.W. Effinger
being the last proprietor who closed the business and removed to Baltimore, Maryland, where for some time he
was with the wholesale firm of Armstrong, Cater and Company, an old and well known concern of the City, for
quite a number of years. He is still living in Baltimore at an advanced age.
7. ART:
Photograph.
Page 157 of 482
HOUSES
1. SUBJECT:
Effinger House.
2. LOCATION:
Corner Court Square and Graham Street, Harrisonburg, Virginia.
3. DATE:
1820.
4. OWNERS:
Thomas Harrison, inclusive survey, November 13, 1770, records obscure, burnt in 1864.
George W. Harrison from John Ewing, June 4, 1819, $1,000, BR.D.B. 4, page 192.
Dr. Peachy Harrison from George W. Harrison, September 1, 1820, $1,100, B.R.D.B. 5, page 171.
Mrs. Mary Effinger from Peachy Harrison’s executors, 1859, $4,000, B.R.D.B. 31, page 343.
Margaret L. Huston from Mary Effinger, January 1, 1868, $4,000, D.B. 3, page 104.
Mrs. Bettie S. Effinger from Margaret L. Huston, January 2, 1871, $4,350, D.B. 7, page 36.
P.W. Effinger, etc., from Mrs. Bettie S. Effinger, by inheritance.
E.B. Crawford from P.W.Effinger, $1, D.B. 111, page 13.
E.B. Crawford estate, present owner since 1927.
5. DESCRIPTION:
The house is built of brick laid in common bond and has three stories. There is a chimney on both ends.
The entrance with square transom, leads into a narrow hallway, having a flight of steps at the rear to the second
floor; it has a turned rail and square newel posts.
There are nine rooms and an attic. The upper floors are used as apartments and have been rather much abused in
later years; the doors are of pine and of the two and six panel style. There is nothing unusual or striking as to
hardware, woodwork, mantels, etc. Evidently the interior has been greatly changed in recent years.
6. HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE:
The house was built by Dr. Peachy Harrison in 1820. M. H. Effinger was connected with banking here in the
early days and was a man of affairs in the community. He later moved to Staunton and was the owner of much
real estate in Augusta County. Whether it was he who first owned the lot and built the house is not known.
Others of the Effingers were active in the business affairs of Harrisonburg and the county of Rockingham and it
may have been one of these who built the house.
The chief interest centering around this old place is the fact of the Effinger Store, the business having been
conducted in the street floor rooms for many years and known far and wide for the superior quality of the goods
sold and the excellent service rendered to its patrons. The “cheap and shoddy” had no place in the Effinger
store, and its merchandise was always to be relied upon. The business continued until about 1900, P.W. Effinger
being the last proprietor who closed the business and removed to Baltimore, Maryland, where for some time he
was with the wholesale firm of Armstrong, Cater and Company, an old and well known concern of the City, for
quite a number of years. He is still living in Baltimore at an advanced age.
7. ART:
Photograph.
Page 157 of 482
