The Girard Historic District [†]is a historic commercial corridor stretching between Penn Avenue and the railroad tracks along Route 20 in the Borough of Girard, Erie County, PA. The district contains many historic nineteenth and early-mid-twentieth century commercial buildings with some religious properties and is anchored at the east, north, and south ends by residential areas and at the west end by the railroad tracks which provide clear visual enclosures to the nominated area. The majority of buildings exemplify interpretations of the range of architectural styles that were popular from the nineteenth to the mid-twentieth century, being built between 1825 to 1955. Route 20, running east-west, forms the spine of this linear district and was historically a street where many of Girard’s leading business owners constructed commercial buildings. The historic pattern of development along this section of Route 20 remains visible in the historic fabric of the district, with buildings and streetscape characteristics illustrating the transition from a rural road to a commercial core. The district includes thirty-five contributing buildings, one site and one structure. The buildings were constructed in stages between 1825 and 1955. None of the buildings in the district have been previously listed in the National Register.
† Karen A. Kennedy, Director of Architectural History, Joseph Duggan, Associate Architectural Historian, Preservation Studios, Girard Historic District, 2022, National Register of Historic Places, Washington, D.C.
Street Names
Main Street East • Main Street West