Scherich Farmhouse Inspection Photos

Mr. Eric Fairchild, Mr. Joe Botchie, Ms. Nancy Van Dolsen and Mr. Phil Walsh inspected the 1852 Scherich Farmhouse on September 26, 2022 courtesy of Ms. Barbara Hawkins who has owned the home for nearly 20 years (with husband Jeffrey) and has done much restoration work.

The relationship with the Lambert farmhouse is that John Scherich and Mary Lambert were brother and sister. Their mother, Anna Scherich Crall, lived with Michael & Mary Lambert at the time of the 1850 census. Another daughter, Barbara (Scherich) Krall, encased (with brick) a log home further up McCormick Rd. ca. 1850. This home is now owned by Phil and Rebecca Walsh.

Brick for these homes was likely supplied by the J. Hickernel Brick Yd. shown adjacent to the J. Scherich farmhouse on the 1858 Map of Cumberland County. J. Hickernel was related to the Scherich’s.

The Scherich farmhouse measures 38’ x 32’ vs. 32’ X 27’ for the Lambert farmhouse. The Scherich center hall stairway accounts for much of the difference. Notice much more elegant gable and cornice treatment which may have been removed from the Lambert house when the rear balconies were added. A similar front porch running the length of the house was likely part of the Lambert house originally.

There is a similar difference in elevation between ground level and the entry door(s) on the Lambert house. The formal entry door at Lambert was wider like this with similar offset to the left.
Sandstone base.
Wooden sills here vs. stone at Lambert farmhouse. This brick pattern is called flemish bond
Better view of gable and cornice treatment. Note standing brick headers vs. stone lintels above windows and doorways.
Same deep sills as Lambert house imply triple wall brick construction
Original door hardware. That is about a 6” key
More original door hardware. All still working.
John Scherich apprenticed as a cabinet maker at Shepherdstown and New Cumberland from 1828 to 1832. It shows in the trim details of his home.
Very fine details
Original pine flooring
Dining Room now. May have been a stove in this room originally.
The parlor. Usually the fanciest room in these homes.
Beautiful stairway. Tiger maple railing – much lower than modern railing as people were shorter then.
We jumped up to the attic. Similar rafter size and spacing to the Lambert farmhouse. A large pine tree fell over several years ago and damaged the Scherich roof and porch. This knee wall was added as reinforcement.
Chimney offset.
There is a masonry center wall running all the way through to the attic.
Lower level Summer Kitchen. Similar design at Lambert farmhouse except the large cooking fireplace has been altered.
Doors and windows flank the fireplace at the exposed gable end. No “saloon” addition or greenhouse here. The Scherich porch likely was not part of the original plan.
Arched capstone near roof peak says “Built by John & Rachel Scherich 1852”
The pathway leads to the driveway and garage
Nice period feature to have.
Similar Bi-Centennial publication to Early Architecture in Upper Allen Township