Oldest Surviving House

Built in 1801 by Continental Army veteran and Erie County judge John Cochran, 2942 Myrtle Street—known historically as The Homestead—is widely considered the oldest surviving house in Erie.

Perched near the north bank of Mill Creek, the home originally overlooked a valley once called “Happy Valley,” where Cochran operated a sawmill, grist mill, and other early industries that helped shape the region’s development. The house itself is a striking example of early Greek Revival architecture, with its white-painted brick exterior and stately two-story columns. Over the centuries, it evolved from a single-family residence into a two-unit dwelling, and even hosted President Zachary Taylor’s welcoming committee during his 1849 visit to Erie. After falling into disrepair, the property was donated to Community Shelter Services in 2017, which undertook a major restoration to preserve its historic character while transforming it into permanent housing for families in need. Today, The Homestead stands not only as a physical link to Erie’s founding era, but as a symbol of resilience and adaptive reuse in the heart of the city.