Neville House
Also known as: Woodville
The pin is a point inside the NPS boundary polygon, not a surveyed location.
Why it's listed
Built in 1785 by John Neville, a Virginian who had moved to western Pennsylvania in the early 1770s, this frame, one and a half story house is a Virginian colonial dwelling set in the Heidelberg area of Allegheny County. Its entrance hall divides the plan, with a large living room on one side and rooms of irregular shape on the other, reflecting later additions. A verandah with trellis post and beam panels wraps the front, one side and the rear, and the interior retains good late eighteenth century woodwork. Neville served at Fort Pitt and was present at major Revolutionary battles, and he later held state offices in Pennsylvania. Because the house is one of few surviving eighteenth century dwellings in Allegheny County and is tied to an important family, it is regarded as worth preserving. A highway has been encroaching on the land in front of it.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is significant because of its builder, General John Neville, and because it is an excellent example of a Virginian architectural style in western Pennsylvania. It is described as one of the few remaining eighteenth century houses in Allegheny County and has an interior with good late eighteenth century woodwork.
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 74001733, listed February 5, 1974. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | S of Heidelberg on PA 50, Heidelberg |
|---|---|
| County | Allegheny County |
| Listed | February 5, 1974 |
| Reference number | 74001733 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1785 |
| Architect / builder | John Neville (builder) |
| Architectural style | Virginian colonial |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Military, Politics/Government |
| Level of significance | National |
| National Historic Landmark | Yes, designated June 2, 1978 |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Restoration project funded in 1976-1977 for grading, woodwork, painting, roof repair and historical research; the document notes a highway encroaching on the land in front of the house. |
| Acreage | 1 |
| Coordinates | 40.37976, -80.09652 (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 74001733.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q8033519
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.