James Buchanan

Lancaster County, Pea A - Fennel Cakes, Black Box Buggies, Towns with naughty names, Scrapple, As

far as the eye can see fields of corn and wheat, Covered Bridges and James Buchanan.

James Buchanan was born on 23 April 1791 in a log cabin at Cove Gap, Pennsylvania and grew up in

nearby Mercersburg. In 1812 he was admitted to the Pennsylvania Bar and made Lancaster his lifelong

home. Besides being a lawyer, he was first a State House Representative, then a US congressman and

Senator. He was also, the 15 th US President from 4 March 1857 to 4 March 1861. He was succeeded by

Abraham Lincoln. He is generally considered the worst president, for his lack of leadership in the build

up to the Civil War.

He purchased “Wheatland” in March of 1848 and died there on 1 June 1868. It is a Federal Style house

consisting of a two and a half story central section flanked by three story wings. The house was built

in 1828. The central section is very pleasing especially with the Doric Column porch, but the wings, I

find very disturbing. They are very austere with poorly proportioned Palladian windows. As you can

see in the photograph, the back of the house is what you would expect from an early Nineteenth

Century brick farmhouse. Two outbuildings remain and they can be seen in my Portfolio.

Wheatland is in The Northeast Lancaster Historic District or commonly, School Lane Hills. It is an

excellent example of early suburban development in Lancaster County gaining its significance

between 1880 and 1935. Until the 1880’s the Herr farmstead at 1305 Marietta Avenue and Wheatland

at 1112 Marietta Avenue were the only residence in this section of Lancaster.

Drive about and marvel at Colonial Revival, Tudor Revival, Georgian Revival, Dutch Colonial Revival,

Queen Anne and American FourSquare homes then head to the Lemon Street Market for a takeout

picnic lunch or to a brew pub in the Central Market District.