2. By: Ashley Wiskup & Tesa Ramsdell

3. Noticings Very big Old looking Lots of windows Open area Lots of details in each room Smelled old Solarium roof was glass Shallow drawers Elevator Dim lighting Wood engravings Mosaics Oil paintings 12 fire places Stain glass windows Art Decorative hinges Fabric covered walls Servants Quarters

4. Questions Is it haunted? Who lived here? How many rooms? Why did it become a museum? Why so many fireplaces? When was it built? How many people lived here? What were the secret doors used for? What is in the servant’s quarters? Who built the house? How long did it take to build? Who did all the mosaics? Who carved all the wood work? How long till the house was completely built and finished? How much did it cost? Cost to build?

5. Meet the Family

6. The mansion has 24 rooms, 17 closets, 5 bathrooms, and 12 fireplaces. Most of the rooms are very different in design and style.

7. Contextual Information The Watson-Curtze Mansion is a symbol of the upper class lifestyle of the 1890’s in Erie

8. Contexual Cont. The architectural style of the house is known as Richardsonian Romanesque, named after the famous architect Henry Hobson Richardson. The firm of Green and Wicks from Buffalo, New York designed the house in 1889. The style is characterized by the use of massive geometric shapes, straightforward treatment of stone and broad roof planes. The overall effect depends on mass, volume, and scale, rather than decorative detailing.

9. Contextual Cont. Two families occupied the Mansion before it became a museum. The first was Harrison F. Watson, his wife Carrie Tracy Watson and their daughter Winifred. The Watson’s moved into the house in 1891. Harrison Watson was the president of the H.F. Watson Paper Company, which manufactured building, roofing, and lining materials, as well as steam pipe and boiler packaging coverings.

10. Now a Museum! In 1941, after Mr. Curtze died, his family offered the mansion to the School District of the City of Erie to be used as a museum. The Museum Department of the Erie Public Library moved into the mansion when it became the Erie Public Museum. Today the house is owned and operated by the Erie County Historical Society.

11. Fireplaces

13. Great Room

14. Kitchen

15. Elevator A very unique feature is the elevator, which operated between the first and third floors.

16. Heavily applied decorative woodwork appears throughout the house. Hardwood oak floors are found in all the rooms. Even the decorative hinges, door knobs, and drawer pulls indicate the high level of detail incorporated in the building of the mansion.

17. Dining Room The table, chairs, and sideboard are original furnishings This room also has mahogany woodwork and stain glass windows The house gets decorated every year for Christmas time!

18. Winifred’s Bedroom Built in Wood Work

19. Detailed Pieces

20. Personal Connections We really liked all the art in the house. The detail in all the fireplaces were very unique The hinges on all the doors were all designed differently The lamp shades were all made out of glass The flag that was in the ballroom had 36 stars and was draped over President Lincolns casket The wood carvings and mosaic pieces were very detailed and had a lot of time put into them

21. American flag with 36 stars! Placed over Abraham Lincoln’s casket Lincoln was transported in this exact train. Original photo!!

22. Experiential Activity Ideas History: Science: Research project about the American Flag with 36 stars that was over Lincolns casket. How did Lincoln die? Research 1890 architecture. Behind the house is the Erie Planetarium. Visit the planetarium and learn about astronomy, geology, and biology There are many hands on programs and activities there

23. Activities Cont. Art:Math: Make you own mosaic Do your own wood carving but use soap or clay instead Make your own stain glass Design your own mansion with blue prints Figure out how tall the whole house is. Compare sizes of fire places in each room to the height on the ceiling

24. Activities Cont. English: Geography: Make up a short story about an event that may happen in one of the rooms Make up a play that could happen in the ballroom. Pretend you are Winifred and write what you do in a day to day basis. Find the longitude and latitude of the house. Get a map of Erie and mark out where other million dollar mansions are

25. Lines on Inquiry Aesthetic: What role does the Watson-Curtze Mansion play in today’s society compared to how it did in the 1890’s in Erie. What role does it play in Pennsylvania and to the USA? Pedagogical: What impact did the Watson and Curtze families have in the Erie society between 1890- 1941?