STRICKLER HESS BUILDING

Strickler & Hess Building The Full Story:

In 1903, Jacob Arthur Strickler and Evans William Hess constructed a three-storied office building located at 88 West Main Street. The building was constructed on land once owned by Uniontown’s founders, the Beeson family. The cornice bears the names of these Uniontown business men. Strickler was a coal operator with Deyarman Coal Co. and a member of the Uniontown City Council. Hess made his money in real estate and insurance. Both men came from humble, farming backgrounds. J. Arthur’s parents, Joshua and Elizabeth (Covert) Strickler’s portraits are shown here. When Joshua was a little boy he saw Lafayette when he came to Fayette County in 1825. It made a tremendous impact on him.

He was also one of the “Old Pike Boys” who drove goods along the National Road during its heyday.

On November 9, 1908 Strickler became the sole owner of the building by purchasing the half interest from his partner, for a large consideration. The building has a 49-foot front on Main Street and extends back to Peter Street, 15 feet. Early renters included the West Penn Railways Company and Stone’s Furniture Store. Fashionable apartments were located on the upper floors. By the time many businessmen’s fortunes were reversed when J.V. Thompson’s bank failed in 1915, Strickler was focusing his efforts on the management of the city’s infrastructure. But all businesses in the city were impacted. After Strickler died in 1933, the building continued to be referred to as the Strickler & Hess building, including in 1938 when former Uniontown Mayor William Clarke Hatfield fell down the stairs and died of his injuries. Hatfield had been visiting friends who lived in one of the apartments. It was a little child who sounded the alarm.

Although we are not certain who designed the building, there are many classical architectural elements such as pediments, scrolls and columns worth noticing.