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Walking west, pass under the porch at Moravian House Antiques and stop at its far side.

In 1770, 18 houses dotted the town. A general store, an inn, an apothecary, a potash factory, and a grist and saw mill all contributed to the town’s economy. By 1815 275 people and 46 residences and other buildings existed. Lititz became a regional center of trade because of its large concentration of craftsmen. Then in 1855 the charter was changed to withdraw the Congregation’s business interests.

Only about a quarter of the buildings we’ll see were constructed before 1855, the remainder after then. The buildings of each period are intermingled. Most buildings in Lititz retain their original or early architectural features.

On your left

122 E Main St

Nathaniel Wolle,1854. (Son of Reverend Peter Wolle?) In 1845 the church sold the Congregational Store to him. (It may have been that the store as run was no longer profitable.) Three-story with porch roof was an expansion from next door. Now Moravian House Antiques. Next door is.

120 E. Main St

Congregational Store, 1762. Five bay of limestone. It was an early church-operated business. The first storekeeper was Matthew Tshudy and opened as a store in 1764. The only store in Lititz for over 60 years. You would buy from your neighbors or this store. It carried such items as spices, textbooks, paper. It was part of the chain of Moravian owned businesses stretching from Bethlehem, PA to Winston-Salem, NC.

Now look across the street.

125 E. Main St

Pilgerhaus or Pilgrim’s House. On this site stood a two story stone house built by John George Kline in 1754. Used for a short time as a place of worship and pastor residence. In 1765 David Tannenberg began building organs here. Two of them are still used in the Brothers’ House. The building was raised in 1866 for the present one. (It retains the original two story limestone back wall.) It first housed Sunnyside College a girls’ school which closed in 1878. Now residences.

Continue west on E. Main St. to stand by the steps to the log house.