Pancake Row

Pancake Row. . , The Historic District of Shipoke's unique setting as a quaint neighborhood along the Susquehanna is particularly enhanced by one of the most unique row of houses in Harrisburg. Robust in Carpenter Gothic architectural styling where decorative moldings and the jig saw were not spared are 100-114 Conoy Street, commonly known as Pancake Row. Shipoke, as far south as Tuscarora Street, was included in the Borough's original corporate boundaries of 1791. By the early 19th Century, a sizable lumber business, known as Trullinger and Company, had been established at S. Front Street near Paxton Street. George Trullinger and Jacob Pancake owned the firm. Pancake had two sons, Alfred and George, who took over the business after the elder Pancake and Trullinger passed away. The firm under the younger Pancakes' ownership supplied much of the lumber of the construction of many frame homes in South Harrisburg. Shipoke in general was part of a farm owned by Robert Harris, son of John Harris, Jr. Harris laid out building lots in Shipoke in 1842, however the lots at 100-114 Conoy Street were retained by the Harris family until acquired by Alfred Pancake in 1870. Thereon, Pancake erected his distinctive row of townhouses circa 1888 as rental units for, it is surmised, employees of his lumber mill. The row remained rental housing throughout much of the 20th Century until water inundated from the 1972 Agnes Flood resulted in their sale for rehabilitation. The row again almost met its demise during the Ice Flood of 1996 when a faulty wire caused a fire and major damage. However, the coming together of the City with the neighborhood and property owners effected a thorough restoration and reconstruction initiative, which now symbolizes the survival of the enduring Shipoke community.