Thomas Brothers Store
Also known as: Biglerville Country Store
Why it's listed
Built in 1912 at the southeast corner of Main and York Streets in Biglerville, the three-story brick Thomas Brothers Store was designed and built by Ner Clifford Thomas, who also served as general contractor. The building combines a parapet and overhanging cornice with a shed roof behind it, and it has a paired-window storefront and a rear residence joined to its south side. Its interior retains original woodwork and varnish. The store sold hardware, clothing, feed, groceries and bulk goods to farmers and townspeople of the Fruitbelt, and farmers brought produce to trade there. The upper floors held offices, a library, a lodge meeting room and an auditorium used for plays, concerts and community events. The building is regarded as a well-preserved example of the general store and one of few such commercial buildings still operating in their original role.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the store was the commercial and social center for Biglerville and surrounding Fruitbelt communities from 1912 onward. It is described as an outstanding example of the general store and as unusually intact, with its original fabric, historic merchandise, and continuous operation under the same family.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 08000780, listed August 15, 2008. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 4 S. Main St., Biglerville |
|---|---|
| County | Adams County |
| Listed | August 15, 2008 |
| Reference number | 08000780 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1912-1958 |
| Architect / builder | Thomas, Ner C. |
| Architectural style | Late 19th and 20th Century Revivals/Classical Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Commerce |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | In continuous operation since 1912 under the same family's ownership, according to the document. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 39.93037, -77.24832 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 08000780.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7787942
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.