What's that? John Irwin House holds history of borough

For some who grew up in the Irwin area, the yellow house at the corner of Main Street and Pennsylvania Avenue in downtown Irwin may simply be known as the teddy bear shop.

While it hosted Ye Olde Teddy Bear Shoppe for 25 years, drawing in children with an easily spotted sign featuring a picture of a stuffed bear, the home has a much more storied history in the creation of downtown Irwin and the family that founded it.

The home was built in 1836 by John Irwin after inheriting land from his father and uncle, Col. John Irwin, who came to the area in 1769 and established the Scull House on Brush Hill Road. After its completion, the John Irwin House ran as an inn for stagecoach drivers and passengers. At the time, Irwin operated a stagecoach line from Stewartsville to Youngstown.

By 1851, Irwin began laying out lots running from Irwin Station to Fifth Street and east to Oak Street that would become the basis for the town. Residents in 1864 voted to incorporate the village as the Borough of Irwin, after John Irwin, according to the borough’s website.

“Built this house in 1836, then he laid out the town,” said Bill Jenkins, who owns the house with his wife, Sandy, a direct descendant of Irwin. “This was originally called Irwin Station.”

At the time the home was constructed, it featured several outbuildings that included the kitchen and stables. A wrought-iron fence lined the property and a barn was located in the area of the Irwin Park playground. The Irwin family later donated the land for the park, as well as land for the First Presbyterian Church across the street.

Inside, those who enter the home off of Pennsylvania Avenue are greeted in the foyer by a staircase. To the left is a room that was previously used as the library and a dining room. To the right was the living room. Straight ahead, guests can walk onto the sun porch, or turn into what was the breakfast nook.

A major remodel of the home occurred in 1926, and the kitchen was added to the main home.

The second floor features four bedrooms, each with a fireplace, and one bathroom. Another set of stairs on that floor lead up to the attic. The basement features a fruit cellar.

The house has remained in the Irwin family and in 1984 opened its doors to the teddy bear shop that was owned and operated by Sandy Jenkins. The store closed around 2008, but today the house has other tenants including CJ’s Photography, counseling services and Rana’s Music Studio.

The Jenkins took over the home in 2014 and started making several repairs and renovations, starting in the basement and working their way up to the attic. The couple worked to restore original light fixtures and had several family photographs found in storage framed. They line the main hallway, featuring several of Sandy Jenkins’s grandmother and of Irwin.

In addition to improvements made inside, the couple had the outside of the home repainted and completed several landscaping projects.

For many, improvements to the outside has seemingly allowed the house to keep its strong presence in downtown Irwin as motorists drive past it daily.

“I do think it really adds to the town,” Sandy Jenkins said of the home.