The house at 111 Wampum Avenue has been known as many things in Ellwood City’s history, but it will remain known as the Nathanial Nye home. The house was once a train station, the scene of the first Hazel Dell Borough election, and it is not where it used to be. Today the house sits across Wampum Avenue across from Barry’s Ice Cream but the structure formally sat on the other end of Wampum Ave where Costa Spoa built a supermarket in 1960. James and Ruth purchased the home from Mr. Spoa and had it moved to its current location.
Built in the 1860’s by J.H. Marshall, the building was the Hazel Dell station for the Pittsburgh & Western Railroad before Ellwood City was founded. While it was a train station, John Marshall served as the flagman since Hazel Dell was only a flag stop on the line. John also served as postmaster there until his son-in-law Nathanial Nye was appointed to the post on October 25, 1886. Nathaniel P. Nye was also elected Noble Grand of the Glenn Park Lodge, of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at the clubs institution on September 10, 1891.
We are trying to uncover the history behind not only this house but also the families that have lived here. If you have any memories about this house, whether it be who lived here, who built it, the time you broke your arm falling out of the tree in the back yard, or even the great treats they gave out on Halloween. Please leave a comment below or email us your memories by CLICKING HERE. Information for this post was gathered from the book Ellwood City Houses and the People Who Lived in Them by Charles R. Moser available at the Ellwood City Historical Society.
Tags: glenn park, hazel dell, railroad
