Downtown Harrisburg in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

The Calder
⎯⎯⎯
Olmsted
⎯⎯⎯
McCormick Mansion

Photographed by Beverly Pfingsten, March 15, 2008

1. The Calder/Olmsted/McCormick Mansion Marker

Inscription. The origins of the mansion at 105 N. Front Street can be attributed to William Calder, Jr. (1821-1880), Simon Cameron's business partner, banker and manufacturer. Calder's father had been a preeminent Harrisburg stage coach operator and helped to establish Harrisburg's importance as a transportation center as the nucleus of early route development throughout the U.S. northeast. Calder Jr. was co-founder and president of the Harrisburg Car Works, president of the First National Bank of Harrisburg and was president and director of the Harrisburg Cotton Factory that stood at the current site of the Harrisburg Central YMCA. Calder's original house was a fancy three story stone mansion in the Second Empire style with mansard roof. Following his death, Calder's widow continued to reside at the property until it was sold in 1901 to Marlin E. Olmsted (1847-1913), U.S. Congressman for 16 years and nationally known attorney who had argued many cases before the U.S. Supreme Court. Olmsted is particularly credited for his success as a tax and corporation attorney, winning cases for large companies and making him highly sought after

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by corporations throughout the nation. Olmsted converted the house to a palatial Italian Renaissance styled edifice commensurate with the growth of Harrisburg's stature as State Capital. many noted figures dined at this residence including U.S. President Howard Taft. After Olmsted's death, his widow, Gertrude Howard Olmsted, who was known for serving many cultural and humanitarian causes in Harrisburg, in 1925 married former Harrisburg mayor, business leader, U.S. Ambassador and Patriot-News editor Vance McCormick of the Harrisburg McCormick Dynasty. They lived at the home until McCormick died in 1946 and she in 1953.
Top Photo
1883 engraving of original Calder House prior to the Olmsted renovations.
Bottom Photo
Circa 1910 postcard view of Olmsted house after renovations.

Erected by The Harrisburg History Project Commissioned by Mayor Stephen R. Reed.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Industry & Commerce. In addition, it is included in the Former U.S. Presidents: #27 William Howard Taft, and the Pennsylvania, The Harrisburg History Project series lists. A significant historical year for this entry is 1901.

Location. 40° 15.57′ N,

Calder/Olmsted/McCormick Mansion image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Beverly Pfingsten, March 15, 2008

2. Calder/Olmsted/McCormick Mansion

Now an office building.

76° 53.089′ W. Marker is in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, in Dauphin County. It is in Downtown Harrisburg. It is at the intersection of North Front Street and Locust Street, on the right when traveling south on North Front Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 105 N Front St, Harrisburg PA 17101, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in South-Central Pennsylvania, specifically in Pennsylvania Dutch Country,

and in the Susquehanna Valley.

It is also in the American Northeast

and in the Mid-Atlantic.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, 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: Riverfront Recaptured (a few steps from this marker); Kousa Dogwood (a few steps from this marker); Harrisburg Public Library Dauphin County Library System (within shouting distance of this marker); James McCormick Mansion (within

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shouting distance of this marker); Swenson Plaza Flood Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker); The People’s Bridge (within shouting distance of this marker); The First River School (within shouting distance of this marker); Walnut Street Bridge (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Harrisburg.

Also see . . . Marlin Olmsted - Wikipedia. (Submitted on March 17, 2008, by Bill Pfingsten of Bel Air, Maryland.)

Credits. This page was last revised on December 5, 2019. It was originally submitted on March 17, 2008, by Bill Pfingsten of Bel Air, Maryland. This page has been viewed 3,644 times since then and 64 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on March 17, 2008, by Bill Pfingsten of Bel Air, Maryland.

The Calder⎯⎯⎯Olmsted⎯⎯⎯McCormick Mansion

The Calder
⎯⎯⎯
Olmsted
⎯⎯⎯
McCormick Mansion