Chambersburg in Franklin County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

The Colhoun House

circa 1782

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, September 26, 2024

1. The Colhoun House Marker

Inscription. Constructed in 1782 it is one of the oldest houses in Chambersburg. The home was built by Dr. John Colhoun, who was the first physician in PA to live and practice medicine west of the Susquehanna River. Son-in-Law to Benjamin Chambers, founder of the town, Colhoun's wife, Ruhamah, was the oldest daughter of Col. Chambers and his wife Jane Williams Chambers. Built to be very solid and strong with walls more than 22" thick, Chambers donated limestone, originally quarried for his own use near the Falling Spring, for use in the south wall. The north side of the house was completed in 1786. On Sun, Feb. 17, 1788, Chambers attended the morning worship service at the Presbyterian Church of Falling Spring followed by Sunday dinner at his daughter's home. Soon after the meal, Chambers suffered a heart attack and died on a bench along the north wall of the wide ball within the house. He is buried at the rear of the church adjacent to the house. Only four years later, in Dec. 1792, Colhoun died of pneumonia and his widow lived in the house until her death. Surviving the burning of Chambersburg July 31, 1864, it

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remained in the Chambers family until the stock market crash of 1929 when the bank took possession of the home. The property was purchased by Robert A. Sellers in 1935, and after an extensive two year remodeling, was opened as a funeral home June 17, 1937.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Industry & Commerce • Science & Medicine • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1782.

Location. 39° 56.489′ N, 77° 39.606′ W. Marker is in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, in Franklin County. It is at the intersection of Philadelphia Avenue (U.S. 11) and Chambers Street, on the right when traveling south on Philadelphia Avenue. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 297 Philadelphia Ave, Chambersburg PA 17201, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in South-Central Pennsylvania. It is also in the American Northeast,

in the Mid-Atlantic,

in Appalachia,

and specifically in Northern Appalachia. Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically,

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, September 26, 2024

2. The Colhoun House Marker

it finds itself in what was once the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy

and also one of the original Thirteen Colonies.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Falling Spring Church (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Benjamin Chambers (approx. 0.2 miles away); Joseph Winters (approx. 0.2 miles away); Old Franklin County Jail (approx. 0.2 miles away); Fort Chambers (approx. 0.2 miles away); This Dwight D. Eisenhower Green Ash (approx. 0.2 miles away); King Street Church (approx. 0.2 miles away); John Brown (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Chambersburg.

Credits. This page was last revised on October 8, 2024. It was originally submitted on October 8, 2024, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 420 times since then and 77 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on October 8, 2024, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.