Pennsylvania Historic Preservation

Just Listed!

It is time to highlight some of Pennsylvania’s recently listed historic properties! Since our last post ( Just Listed!) in May, 2016, 20 nominations have been approved by the National Park Service in the Commonwealth. Because several of these are districts, that means that over 1600 properties in the Commonwealth have been added to the National Register!

The George Christian and Anna Catherine Spangler Farm, in Limestowne Township, Union County, was nominated under the Historic Agricultural Resources of Pennsylvania, c1700-1960 Multiple Property Documentation Form (MPDF).   Significant under Criterion A, for agriculture, the farm includes an impressive 111 acres. The main house is constructed of locally sourced fieldstone with 2 foot thick exterior walls.   The diversity of outbuildings on the property are indicative of its highly diversified production, and includes a pigpen, corn crib, milk house/ice house, bank barn, and granary.

The George Christian and Anna Catherine Spangler Farm in Union County was listed in August 2016.  Photograph by David Maher, PA SHPO National Register reviewer, April 2016.

The Tacony Disston Community Development Historic District, in Philadelphia, includes 55 city blocks and over 1000 contributing buildings. Like the Spangler Farm, the district is significant under Criterion A – but under Community Planning and Development and Social History. The community developed as a result of the Disston family’s company, Keystone Saw. Located along the Delaware River waterfront, this “town within a city” retained a unique identify apart from its surroundings from its initial construction in the 1870s through the end of World War I.

According to the nomination, “the Tacony Disston development was built to serve one of the largest complexes in the city in an age when Philadelphia’s economy was based on such heavy industry, yet it provided the Disston workers both with a sense of community and a measure of life in an elite suburb in its relatively low density, safe water supply, and other social and business amenities.” The community has retained its quasi suburban feel with detached and semi-detached houses with front and side yards, contrasting with the dense rowhomes with little open space just outside district’s boundary.

Looking north at 7000-7016 Hegerman Street in the Tacony Disston Historic District. Photograph by Emily T. Cooperman, November 2014, from the National Register nomination.

St. Thomas Memorial Church, located in Oakmont Borough, Allegheny County, was listed for significance under Criterion C for its architecture. The building is an example of the Late Gothic Revival style and has remained largely unchanged since its construction in 1897. The interior of the building includes an elaborate hammer-beam wood ceiling and marble flooring. Shortly after its construction, the local Pittsburgh Architectural Club included the building in an exhibition of significant local buildings. The complex includes not only the church, but original Parish Hall and Rectory as well – all of which have retained integrity and are important local landmarks in the community of Oakmont.

St. Thomas Memorial Church’s wood truss ceiling. Photograph by Lew Dexter, April 2015, from National Register nomination.

If you’d like to read these National Register nominations, or any of the ones below, check out our Cultural Resources GIS and search the database through the “Ask ReGIS” query tool.  Under the “Additional Criteria” section, select “Historic Name” and enter the name of the nomination you’re interested in.  If you have any problems, let us know!

2016 Listings

Tacony Disston Community Development Historic District

Roughly bounded by 4500-4900 blks. of Magee St., Princeton & Tyson Aves., 6900 blk. of Cottage St., Philadelphia

LISTED, 5/16/16

Carver Court

Foundry St. & Brooks Ln., Caln Township, Chester County

LISTED, 5/31/16

Times Finishing Works

1136-1148 N. American St., Philadelphia

LISTED, 7/05/16

George Christian and Anna Catherine Spangler Farm

1175 Wildwood, Mifflinburg, Union County

LISTED, 8/04/16

Perkasie Park Camp Meeting

200 S. 9th St., Perkasie, Bucks County

LISTED, 8/29/16

Progress Lighting Manufacturing Company

1401-1409 Germantown Ave., Philadelphia

LISTED, 8/29/16

Paupack School

545 PA 507, Palmyra Township, Pike County

LISTED, 8/29/16

St. Thomas Memorial Church

378 Delaware Ave., Oakmont Borough, Allegheny County

LISTED, 10/04/16

Harmony Mennonite Meetinghouse and Cemetery

114 Wise Rd., Jackson Township, Butler County

LISTED, 10/04/16

 

2017 Listings

Jacob and Juliana Middlekauff House

530 Flohrs Church Rd., Franklin Township, Adams County

LISTED, 1/17/2017

Reuben and Elizabeth Strassburger Farmstead

407 Keystone Dr., Sellersville, Bucks County

LISTED, 1/17/2017

Highland Park Camp Meeting

415 Highland Park Rd., Sellersville, Bucks County

LISTED, 4/10/2017

Llanerch Public School

5 Llandillo Rd., Haverford Township, Delaware County

LISTED, 4/10/2017 (Educational Resources of Pennsylvania MPS)

Marcus Hook Plank House

221 Market St., Marcus Hook, Delaware County

LISTED, 4/10/2017

Harry C. Kahn and Son Warehouse

3101-27 W. Glenwood Ave., Philadelphia

LISTED, 4/10/2017

Lackawanna Mills and Scranton Button Historic District

Bounded by Cedar & Remington Aves., Cherry & Brook Sts., Scranton, Lackawanna County

LISTED, 5/1/2017

Washington Memorial Chapel

N. side of PA 23, approx. 1.25 mi. W. of the jct. with County Line Rd., Upper Merion Township, Montgomery County

LISTED, 5/1/2017

Mecky Company Building

1705 W. Allegheny Ave., Philadelphia

LISTED, 5/8/2017

Experimental and Safety Research Coal Mines

Cochran Mill Rd., South Park Township, Allegheny County

LISTED, 6/26/2017

 Mine Roof Simulator, NIOSH, Bruceton Research Center

Cochran Mill Rd., South Park Township, Allegheny County

LISTED, 6/26/2017

 

Do you own or steward an important historic property in your community? Contact the National Register staff at the SHPO to see if your building is eligible for listing in the National Register, and your community’s landmarks could be featured in a future Just Listed! column.

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