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

Cody House

621 Cherry Street

— 1896 —

Cody House Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Parker, July 15, 2026

1. Cody House Marker

Inscription. This vernacular frame dwelling was designed 1896 by noted Erie architect C. Paxton Cody, AIA (1854-1936) for his father-in-law, Cleveland native Elias Ede(1825-1899). Cody and his wife Ella Esther Ede Cody(1851-1917) also lived here until 1913. (Ella Cody died in auto accident 1917 and Paxton Codv later married Frances Heartwell Kelly, 1878-1963).

Charles Paxton Cody was named for Lord Paxton, designer of famous Crystal Palace in London, England the year Cody was born on a farm just east of London, Ontario, Canada at Mt. Elgin. He emigrated to U.S. at age 16 (1870), first in Volcano, WVA as a carpenter for three years, then to Manistee, MI for three years where he became a U.S. citizen. He then migrated to the Pennsylvania communities of Edinboro, Edinburg and for some time in Bradford where he engaged in insurance.

In 1891, Cody relocated permanently to Erie to practice architecture that he apparently learned over his 21 years in the U.S. For Cody's next 45 years in Erie, his prolific architecture practice specialized in residential work, but included some larger structures such as main clubhouse for Kahkwa Club

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(1917) as well as some work in Pittsburgh and Cleveland. He served as President of Pennsvlvania State Association of Architects for three years and after joining American Institute of Architects (AIA) 1903. he was a founding member of AIA Erie Chapter and jointly a member of Buffalo Chapter where he once served as President.

Active in the International Cody Family Association, Paxton Cody designed its original crest and served as President 1930. He was a fourth cousin of Col. William F. "Buffalo Bill' Cody, and among organizers of Buffalo Bill Museum & Memorial, Cody, Wyoming. In Erie, he was a charter member of Rotary Club, a Deacon of First Baptist Church and a contributor on various topics to Erie Daily Times, including a series on "political economy". Among later owners of this property, were Erie's 20th Mayor F.F. Adams, longtime G.E. executive W.E. Horstman (33 vears) and dentists Dr. Francis Drake (34 years) and Dr. Ronald Merski (15 years)

This historic house, bordering West Sixth Street Historic District and representing the many affordable well-designed homes by C. Paxton Cody in the late 19th and early 20th centuries,

Cody House Marker to the right of the front entrance image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Parker, July 15, 2026

2. Cody House Marker to the right of the front entrance

was acquired and restored 2025 by Historic Erie Preservation Trust as a place of historic and architectural interest for the benefit of the Erie community.

Erected 2025.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Notable Buildings. A significant historical year for this entry is 1896.

Location. 42° 7.44′ N, 80° 5.879′ W. Marker is in Erie, Pennsylvania, in Erie County. It is on Cherry Street south of West 6th Street (Alternate Pennsylvania Route 5), on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 621 Cherry Street, Erie PA 16502, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Northwestern 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,

on the Great Lakes,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Viceroyalty of New France,

the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy,

and one of the original Thirteen Colonies.

Other nearby markers. At

Photographed by Mark Parker, July 15, 2026

3. Cody House

least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Sophia's Tavern Building (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); Connelly • Payne • Wilson House (about 700 feet away); The Siegle-McDougle House (about 800 feet away); Richard Lowry House (approx. 0.2 miles away); Charles Vernon Gridley (approx. ¼ mile away); Watson-Curtze Mansion (approx. 0.3 miles away); Bayfront Metamorphosis (approx. 0.4 miles away); 21st Century Erie (approx. 0.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Erie.

Credits. This page was last revised on August 28, 2026. It was originally submitted on July 30, 2026, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina. This page has been viewed 10 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on July 30, 2026, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.