File:1942 - Dresher - Martin Home - Allentown PA.jpg

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Dresher Home and Old Smokehouse in Heart of City Quaint Reminder of Quiet Life of Past Generations. At Ninth and Hamilton where merchandizing and public service reaches the heights of community progress, stands a building whose quaint architecture mirrors a peaceful era almost forgotten in the turmoil of the present day. This building situated on the S.W. corner, 902 Hamilton is the old home of the late Nathan Dresher who was a prominent citizen and successful farmer and lumber dealer. Nathan Dresher was born on the farm of his grandfather in Long-swamp township, Berks county, on February 18, 1815. The family moved to this city. In 1837 and shortly after Mr. Dresher went Into the lumber business. The yard was established at Lumber and Hamilton Sts. on the site now occupied by the Grand Silver store. He continued In the lumber business with various partners and sometime in the 50's the yard was moved to a vacant lot west of and adjoining his home. According to the city directory of 1869 his partner was Jacob Grim and the Arm was listed as Dresher, Grim lumber dealers, W. Hamilton, above 9th. About this time Mr. Dresher retired from business, but the lumber yard was operated by other Interests until the site was leased by the Trexler Lumber Co, for storage. The ground Is now occupied by the New York Floral Co. Mr.Dresher was one of the substantial citizens of his day. He was a very tall man and his customary habit of dark clothes and high silk hat gave to him a Lincolnesque appearance. He was a member of St. Michael's Lutheran church and as a Republican served for a time in city councils. He died at the age of 85 on September 10, 1900. The three story gable roofed brick house with front marble trim, arched doorway, high marble steps and stoop, solid white window shutters on the first floor and green shutters with movable slats on the upper stories, and inside shutters, once the mark of affluence, characterize the period. The house as it stands today was erected in 1870 to replace an earlier dwelling occupied by the Dreshers on the same site. Of greater interest than the house itself is the old brick gable roofed smoke house which stands in the side yard adjoining the house on the west, and sets back 15 feet from the Hamilton St. building line. It was the custom of that time for each farmer to treat the hams; shoulders, bacon, sausage etc. according to their own formulae. Following this practice Mr. Dresher brought the butchering products from his farm and cured and seasoned it at home under his watchful eye. The general procedure followed in smoking meat was first to rub it well with salt and after repeated rubbings with a mixture of salt, saltpeter and sugar, it is thoroughly dried. The meat is then hung over a smoldering fire of hickory, apple or cherry stumps and knots. Not to overheat the meat, an iron plate was placed over the fire or a two-story smoke house was designed with the fire in the lower chamber, the smoke reaching the meat through holes in the floor. The meat was hung from green sticks by means of a large hook to go over the stick and a small.

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The Dresher home at 9th and Hamilton Sts., built in 1870. The old smokehouse in the yard of the Dresher home.

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