Emma de Crano McCammon

Address unknown, Gettysburg, PA

1891 | Residence | Not Built

“Minerva Parker, architect, 14 S. Broad street, is making plans for a residence for Mrs. E.L. McCammon, to be erected at Gettysburg, Pa, to be of stone and shingle, two-and-a-half stories high, hot air heat, electric bells and all modern improvements, etc.” (April 22, 1891)

“Minerva Parker has made plans for a house to be erected at Gettysburg for Mrs. McCammon.” (Philadelphia Times, April 27, 1891)

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Emma de Crano McCammon (abt. 1835-1893) was the daughter of Frederick Mollar de Crano, a veteran of the Napoleonic Wars and an industrialist with investments in mining and rail roads. Her brother, Felix F. de Crano, was a well-known Philadelphia artist. She was the mother of three sons by her husband David C. McCammon, operator of a tobacco trading house in Philadelphia, and an active player in progressive Republican politics.

Following David McCammon’s retirement in 1872, the family moved to Gettysburg and it was there that their sons attended the preparatory department of Pennsylvania College (now Gettysburg College). The family lived at 124 Carlisle Street in a house purchased by Emma’s brother Felix that he placed in trust for the benefit of his sister and her children. When full ownership of the house was transferred to Emma in 1884 (five years after the death of her husband) she commissioned architect John A. Dempwolf of York, Pennsylvania, to renovate the interiors and to add a substantial third floor addition. What brought Emma to commission Minerva to design a new house seven years later is unknown; perhaps the fact that her sons were nearing marrying age was a motivation for building anew, although no land appears to have been purchased for such a purpose. Emma ultimately died at the 124 Carlisle Street house in February 1893.

Minerva’s proposed design was described as, “a large private residence,” to be built of stone and shingle, two and a half stories high. It seems likely, given the close involvement of Felix in Emma’s affairs, that the decision to hire Minerva was tied to her brother’s Philadelphia connections.