Aug 25, 2002 By The 2 min read

The Ellis Music Store ranks as one of the outstanding historic landmarks in this area, with regard to both the business and its building. Dating back to 1873, it is the oldest business in Uniontown continuously operated under the same name.

It has been in the same building for 199 years.

The two-story, red-brick building was built in 1843 at 29 Morgantown St. in the “Pennsylvania farmhouse” style of architecture, not common in a downtown urban setting.

It was divided on the ground floor in front into a residence and a sales room and was used for both purposes until a relatively few years ago. A long narrow row of small additions was built in the back yard, creating a rear courtyard effect.

The company was founded in 1873 by A. Inghram Ellis, a Civil War veteran, and located near the corner of Morgantown and Main Streets. Ten years later, it moved to its present site and has been there ever since.

The building was occupied by the Keffer family when it was purchased in 1846 by Lucius W. Stockton, whose National Road Stage Co. was the largest stagecoach line on the National Road. Stables, a coach factory, blacksmith, mail handling and other facilities, along with the National Hotel, were just up the street (on Morgantown, from Arch to Fayette).

Stockton converted the building into his “company store,” selling to his workers and coach drivers. He pulled out after a few years, and the building was used by a succession of food stores until Ellis acquired it in 1883.

Ellis had started as the agency for Singer sewing machines but moved into pianos and organs, and then into all types and sizes of musical instruments and supplies. The store offered a place for music instruction, provided pianos for many civic functions and took a leading role in music-related organizations and programs.

Through the years, various members of the Ellis family were involved with the store, until it was sold in 1968 to the late William Caton.