Montgomery County: Adding a Few More Buildings to the Historical Register

As a means of preserving the rich history of the United States, the National Register of Historic Places was established. Under administration by the National Park Service, the full purpose of this department is to ensure that buildings and locations that offer historical or archaeological significance are identified, evaluated, and protected.

Recently, three buildings in the Montgomery County area were named to the National Register of Historic Places. These buildings while quite different from each other, each offer a rich tapestry of history for the residents and is set to remain a vital part of the community for decades to come.

If you’re wondering about the history of each building, what’s in store for each building going forward and the potential impact to the community, then keep reading to learn more about this topic, brought to you by your trusted local Montgomery County movers at O’Brien’s Moving and Storage.

Lincoln Tower Apartments

The Lincoln Tower Apartments building is located at 100 N. Fifth St. and was originally known as the Abraham Lincoln Hotel. The building was nominated as a historic landmark thanks to its undeniable significance in our history. The building is considered by many architectural scholars as one of the most astounding examples of the art-deco design movement.

The hotel was designed by a New York architect known as William Lee Stoddert in 1930. Before this hotel was built, the architect built a reputation for his astounding architectural designs on a number of grand urban hotels throughout the eastern United States over the 1920s and 1930s.

Fast forward to 2013, the building was taken over by the current owner Alan W. Shuman. He originally desired to restore the building as a hotel but restored it as a 98-unit luxury apartment building instead. That means that our team at O’Brien’s Moving and Storage could potentially move you in someday—if the opportunity arises for you to live in this piece of Montgomery County history.

Boyertown Burial Casket Co.

Unlike the Lincoln Tower Apartments, the Boyertown Burial Casket Co. building was named to the register thanks to its historical significance. The building was built in East Greenville between 1880 and 1925. This building served as an outpost of the company’s main factory located in Boyertown.

In the early and mid 20^th century, the company was the largest employer in the Montgomery county-based town. They manufactured a wide range of burial caskets that included bronze, hardwood, and metal. Since 1999, East Greenville Real Estate LLC has owned the building and is the only remaining factory-building left that is related to the original factory. The original factory was the subject of demolition back in 1988.

As of today, the building is occupied by Walnut Woods, an independent living facility, and as such is an economic contributor to the county, which is a significant factor in being named to the register.

Myerhoff Building

The Myerhoff building—much like the Boyertown building—was also named to the register for its historical significance. This isn’t too surprising when you consider that the building actually dates back to 1900. Besides its actual age, the building was also associated with Pottstown’s textile industry making it an economic contributor since its inception.

From 1900 to 1924, Meyerhoff, Son and Co. shirt manufacturers occupied the building until it was taken over by the Pottstown Shirt Company from 1925 to 1976. Interestingly, in 1976, Mrs. Smith’s Frozen Foods owned the building until the end of the 20^th century. As of 2013, Cherry St. LLC owns the building

According to April Frantz, “the Meyerhoff and Boyertown nominations were submitted in an effort to rehabilitate them using the Federal Rehabilitation Investment Tax Credit program." Now that the nominations have been accepted, it is believed that not only will these buildings be recorded as a significant part of history but will also help add to the local economy.

Expert Moving With O’Brien’s Moving and Storage

Our team at O’Brien’s Moving and Storage has been the preferred movers Montgomery County PA has seen since 1947. This is primarily due to our ability to understand the unique needs of the nearly 800,000 residents that reside within the county. We believe in providing nothing less than a high-quality, cost-effective move for our customers—along with versatile storage options designed to meet your needs.

We offer each of our customers the following services:

• Residential Moving: We can move any household size at a competitive price.
  
• Commercial Movers: Keep your corporate move simple and on budget with our commercial options.
  
• Specialized Moving: Our team is specially trained to handle your fragile and special items with care and the proper equipment.
  
• Storage: We offer both short and long-term options to suit your needs.