Vicary, Capt. William, House
Also known as: Nannah Property
Why it's listed
Built between 1826 and 1833 on a high bluff above the Ohio River in Freedom, Beaver County, this five-bay, two-and-one-half-story stone house was begun by Captain William Vicary after his naval career. Its walls are of massive dressed stone blocks laid in regular courses, quarried on the property and hauled to the site on horse-drawn sledges up earthen ramps. A classical front porch of about 1900 shelters the central entrance, which has a recessed oak door with a fanlight. Vicary earned his reputation in the War of 1812 by capturing four British warships, and their cargo helped the young nation's finances. He also laid out the village of St. Clair, later incorporated into Freedom. The house is valued for its skilled stonework, uncommon for its period in western Pennsylvania, and for its rugged, unadorned vernacular character, which reflects the way academic styles were adapted on the frontier.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is significant as the home of Naval Captain William Vicary, who gained fame in the War of 1812 by capturing four British war vessels. It also argues the house has architectural significance for its skilled stone work, uncommon for the early nineteenth century in western Pennsylvania, and for its vernacular character, which grew from local needs rather than a formal style.
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 74001749, listed November 8, 1974. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 1251 4th St., Freedom |
|---|---|
| County | Beaver County |
| Listed | November 8, 1974 |
| Reference number | 74001749 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1826-1833 |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Military, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Divided into modern apartments in 1948; the original window sashes have been replaced and a large kitchen fireplace and a stone wall have been removed. |
| Acreage | 5 |
| Coordinates | 40.68192, -80.24991 (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 74001749.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5036864
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.