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

James McBrier House

306 West 6th Street

— 1890 —

James McBrier House Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Parker, July 15, 2026

1. James McBrier House Marker

Inscription. This Victorian-Romanesque style house of brick and Medina sandstone was built 1890 for Erie Industrialist James McBrier (1834-1912) and Mary Elizabeth white McBrier (1835-1922). Reported as "An Expensive Residence", costing about $20,000, it was built on "one of the least attractive lots," previously part of Erie Extension Canal (1844-1871) followed by "unsightly" coal yard.

James McBrier, a native of Allegheny City (Pittsburgh), at age 23 took over his Northern Ireland immigrant father's successful Pittsburgh lumber business. Mary White McBrier, from a prominent Pittsburgh family, traced heritage to the Mayflower and founding of Republican Party. He served in several Pittsburgh elected positions before selling his. business and moving 1878 to Erie where he had previously established his wholesale lumber business, including ownership of several Great Lakes freighters and longtime service on Board of Lake Carriers Association.

James McBrier became President 1888 of Erie's Ball Engine Co., noted worldwide for its stationary industrial steam engines. (It became Erie Steam Shovel Co. 1914 and Bucyrus-Erie Mfg. Co. 1927.)

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Active at Park Presbyterian Church and Chairman of Erie County Republican Party during President Benjamin Harrison's election, he served on the Boards of Erie Trust Co. & First National Bank of Erie.

Daughter Lucie McBrier Jarecki and husband Alexander built their house 1911 directly across W. 6th Street at 305. In 1922, this house passed to eldest son, David Nye McBrier (1856-1945), an 1877 Lehigh University graduate & President of Erie Steam Shovel Co. After 55 years of McBrier Family, the house was sold 1945 for apartments. In 2006, Gannon University acquired the property for student housing now known as the---
Catholic House

Since 1984, this house has been listed as the James McBrier House on the National Register of Historic Places by US. Department of the Interior and designated a Contributing building in Erie's ---
West 6th Street Historic District

Erected 2022.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Notable Buildings. A significant historical year for this entry is 1890.

Location. 42° 7.64′ N, 80° 5.505′ W. Marker is in Erie, Pennsylvania, in Erie County. It is at

James McBrier House Marker by the main entrance to the house image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Parker, July 15, 2026

2. James McBrier House Marker by the main entrance to the house

the intersection of West 6th Street (Alternate Pennsylvania Route 5) and Myrtle Street, on the right when traveling west on West 6th Street. Marker is located to the right of the main entrance at the top of the stairs. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 306 W 6th Street, Erie PA 16507, 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 least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Selden House (within shouting distance of this marker); Canalside Townhouses (within shouting distance of this marker); Wood-Morrison House (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Watson-Curtze Mansion (about 600 feet

James McBrier House image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Parker, July 15, 2026

3. James McBrier House

away); Vietnam Era Conflict Memorial (approx. 0.2 miles away); Erie County Courthouse Facade Restoration Project (approx. 0.2 miles away); Erie County (approx. 0.2 miles away); Galbraith • Shenk • Emmet House (approx. ¼ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Erie.

Credits. This page was last revised on September 10, 2026. It was originally submitted on September 8, 2026, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina. This page has been viewed 8 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on September 8, 2026, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.