Harrisburg’s historic farmers market tops a list of “preservation priorities,” as an area historic preservation group has released its annual list.
On Monday, Historic Harrisburg Association (HHA) presented its list of endangered historic structures in the Harrisburg area.
“This is how we alert the entire community and potential buyers and developers of their opportunities for preserving these buildings,” said David Morrison, HHA’s executive director. “And that has proven to be very effective.”
HHA named the Broad Street Market as its top preservation priority for 2025, following a devastating fire that gutted and shuttered the 1870s-era brick building. Since the July 2023 blaze, the city has cleared out the brick market house, but doesn’t expect the rebuilding and restoration process to begin until later this year.
“It’s very important that whatever is done to the brick building is done in kind, so that both its roof structure, its window structure, the building envelope is the way it was before the fire occurred and it’s restored as such,” said Jeb Stuart, president of HHA’s board of directors.
The Broad Street Market’s gutted brick building (file photo)
In his presentation, Stuart added that improvements also need to be made to the second market house, the 1860s-era stone building, which was untouched by the fire and remains open. For instance, that building needs a new roof and upgraded HVAC system.
The remaining “top five” preservation priorities for 2025 are:
- William Penn High School, a shuttered, century-old school building near Italian Lake
- Balsley House, a dilapidated, Federal-style building in downtown Harrisburg
- Lochiel Hotel, a former school, restaurant and club in south Harrisburg off of the Capital Area Greenbelt
- Riverside and Paxton firehouses, which are two vacant, city-owned former fire stations
Last year, HHA named William Penn as its top preservation priority, as the Harrisburg School District had proposed demolishing the school. The district later reversed course, but the future of the building remains unclear.
Moreover, HHA placed almost two-dozen buildings and structures on its “watch list,” meaning they’re historic properties of concern. These are:
- Mira Lloyd Dock House, Front and Reily streets
- Former Chisuk Emuna Synagogue, 423 Division St.
- Central Publishing House, 100 N. 13th St.
- DeVout Mansion, 208 Hummel St.
- Harrisburg State Hospital
- Prospect Hill Cemetery Gatehouse, 25th and Market streets
- Camp Curtin Church, 2221 N. 6th St.
- Old State Police HQ/American Dream Diner at 2100 Herr St. (Susquehanna Township)
- Market Street Bridge
- 19th Street Armory, 1313 S. 19th St.
- Cumberland County Railroad Bridge
- Historic Peace Church (Hampden Township)
- Donald Cameron Mansion, Front and State streets
- Nauman Mansion, 315 N. Front St.
- Meyers Mansion, 213 Front St.
- Bishop Bridge, Cumberland and York counties
- First United Methodist Church, Boas Street
- Former St. Paul’s Methodist Church, Vine Street
- Former Bishop McDevitt High School
- Atlas Building, 6th and Maclay streets
- Walnut Street Bridge
- Grace United Methodist Church, State Street
- Former German Jackson residence (now an empty lot)
Stuart also identified the former Bucks Tavern in West Hanover Township as a preservation “loss” over the past year, as the building was demolished. On the positive side, he listed two recent preservation “successes”—Zembo Shrine Center in Uptown Harrisburg and the former Coca-Cola Bottling Works on Allison Hill.
HHA’s 2025 “Preservation Priorities” was drafted by the organization’s preservation committee and now must be approved by the full board.
Both Morrison and Stuart emphasized that they believe it’s important for HHA to release its preservation priorities annually so the public is aware of these structures and may even be able to help preserve them.
Click here for more information on Historic Harrisburg’s Preservation Priorities, including the presentation.
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