The 150 acres of Frontier Place was owned by William L. Scott (1828-1891) and was

called “Frontier Farm.” As per Scott’s will, the Farm was held after his death by his

Trustees until the Erie City limits expanded to include Frontier Farm (April 13, 1920) and

then it was subdivided into single family residential lots per his instructions and sold to

individual purchasers.

Charles M. Reed (1803-1871), the grandson of Seth Reed who was Erie’s first settler,

served a term as mayor of Erie (1872), was a congressman (1843-45), and a general.

He was a successful shipping merchant on the great lakes between Buffalo and

Chicago.

While a congressman, Reed met Scott while Scott was working as a page in the National

House of Representatives. In 1844 Scott (an orphan) moved to Erie at the urging of

Reed who employed Scott at the age of 16 as a shipping clerk on his Erie wharves.

Scott’s career as a businessman and politician based in Erie was extraordinarily

successful and he had very profitable shipping, coal mining, iron manufacturing, and

railroad businesses. He was a popular political figure who served two full terms as

mayor of Erie (1866, 1871), was for many years a member of the democratic national

committee (1868, 1876, 1880, 1888), and a congressman from Pennsylvania (from the

same district represented by C.M. Reed when Scott was a page in the National House)

where he served two terms (1876, 1884).

Scott was a prominent figure in the horse racing and breeding circuit, and held “the

most notable farming enterprise in the history of the Millcreek township” for stock,

studs and agriculture (Miller, Vol. 1, p. 504). This farming operation included Frontier

Farm. There was one residence on Frontier Farm, the farm house (1878) which was

moved from the middle of what is now Seminole Drive to its current location at 704

Seminole Drive in the 1920s during the development of the property.

Scott had an enduring love for Erie as his home city and local evidence of his ceaseless

activities to create a better Erie were “many, imposing, and beautiful” (Miller, Vol. 2, p.

453-455) although most have since been demolished. He sought to make it “beautiful

Erie” and his efforts towards Erie’s embellishment included blocks (“The Scott Block”

of 1872), elegant and commodious homes, mansions, churches, parks and avenues,

Massassauga Point (a hotel at head of Presque Isle), and a cluster of highly cultivated

farms (Nelson, p. 546).

At his death in 1891, Scott bequeathed Frontier Farm in trust to his daughters, Mary

Scott Townsend and Annie Wainwright Strong, stipulating that it was to remain intact

until such time as the plot was annexed by the City of Erie and then it could be laid

out as a subdivision for “purchasers who intend to improve the same for the purpose

of residence or of such business as will not in any way injure the portions of the said

(farm) set apart for residences” (Scott #32385, 1891). The executors of the Scott estate

managed the property for nearly 30 years, after which time the Frontier Farm was

incorporated in the City of Erie and subdivided into lots for residences. The Frontier

Place subdivision was laid out by Hill & Hill Engineers in 1922 which included the tree

lawns and boulevards that add to the neighborhood’s distinction today.

Frontier Farm was deeded by the trustees of Scott’s estate to the Frontier Company

which was incorporated to sell the lots and develop the subdivision. Sale of lots was

delegated to Roy B. Way (President of R.B. Way & Company Real Estate and Insurance)

and who lived at 618 Seminole Drive.

Throughout the 1920s, 59 homes (27% of the 2008 total) were constructed and mainly

reflected the Colonial Revival style. The 1930s and 1940s yielded 43 (20%) more

homes constructed. This comparatively slower growth is commonly attributed to the

effect of The Great Depression and World War II on the Erie area. The 1950s saw

most of the remaining lots in Frontier Place developed with 87 homes built (40%) that

generally reflected the single-story Ranch style. Since 1959, 28 (13%) more homes

have been built. In 1951, the City purchased the parcels of “hollow” from the Frontier

Company and subsequently created Frontier Park. The development of a community

park so close to the neighborhood helped to further enhance the sense of identity of

Frontier Place.

On January 5, 1931, a group of property owners within Frontier Place chartered

the Frontier Improvement Association to “provide for the proper care of the streets,

avenues and roads, shrubbery, public places … and to promote the common good of

the residents and owners of said lots and to improve the use and enjoyment thereof

within the subdivision known as the Frontier Place Subdivision”. The Association is still

active today and its efforts focus on the ongoing maintenance and improvement of the

streets, boulevards, and tree lawns as well as a variety of community-building activities.

SOURCES:

Charter Book 9, Page 466. In the matter of the Incorporation of Frontier Improvement

Association.

Erie City Directories 1920 to 1930.

Erie County Map Book 2, Pages 443 and 444, October 23, 1922.

Last Will and Testament of William Laurence Scott, Registered December 6, 1891. File number

32385, Section VII, Page 10.

Miller, John. A Twentieth Century History of Erie County Pennsylvania: A Narrative Account of

it’s People, and it’s Principal Interests. Chicago: The Lewis Publishing Company, 1909.

Nelson’s Biographical Dictionary and Historical Reference Book of Erie County, Pennsylvania.

Erie, PA: Nelson, 1896. reprinted in 1987 for Erie County Historical Society.

Property and Tax Records on www.eriecountygov.org

Recorder of Deeds of Erie County. Book 343, page 3 December 28, 1929.

“William L. Scott Dead“. New York Times, 21 September 1891.