Burtner Stone House
Why it's listed
Built of native stone in the Allegheny County hills near Natrona Heights, the Burtner Stone House was begun in 1818 and completed in July 1821 for Philip Burtner, who had moved into the area when land was first opened for settlement in 1800. The three-story house has walls thirty inches thick at the base, gable-end chimneys and a stone bond at the corners using large decorated cornerstones. A date-stone in each gable bears the completion date, and the builder's initials are cut into a stone beside the front door. Its size and simplicity make it notable among surviving early buildings in the county. The house also served as a meeting place for early settlers of Old Deer Township, a tax office, and the township's voting center until 1864. Its listing is based on its early date, its construction and its local role, and it was valued by residents who sought its preservation from a proposed highway project.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is one of the earliest large houses in western Pennsylvania and a good example of early nineteenth-century stone construction. It also served as a local meeting place, tax office and voting center, and the nomination points to its association with prominent figures in the county's development.
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 72001088, listed January 13, 1972. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | NW of Natrona Heights on Burtner Rd., Harrison Township, Natrona Heights |
|---|---|
| County | Allegheny County |
| Listed | January 13, 1972 |
| Reference number | 72001088 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1864 |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The form marks the condition as fair and the house as altered, with the veranda and surroundings noted as detracting from integrity. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 40.63153, -79.73079 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary for a privately owned home: it does not by itself restrict what an owner may do with their own money, and it does not require public access. Restrictions come from local landmark or historic-district ordinances, which are separate (how they differ).
Owner-occupied houses are not eligible for the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit, which applies to income-producing buildings, but many states offer credits for homeowners. Listing also opens the door to preservation easements and to buying a plaque. Start with what listing means for homeowners, renovating a listed house and selling one.
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 72001088.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5000757
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.