Espy House
Also known as: David Espy House; Gen. Arthur St. Clair Office
Why it's listed
Built in 1770-71 of thick fieldstone under a slate gable roof, the Espy House in Bedford is a two-and-one-half story building with one end chimney and a long two-story frame addition added in the late 19th century. Its first room, later fitted with a metal ceiling, housed the office of Arthur St. Clair, the first prothonotary and register of the newly created Bedford County, from 1771 to 1772. St. Clair was a major-general of the Continental Army and later the first governor of the Northwest Territory, and the house is the only surviving structure linked to him. From October 19 to 21, 1794, the building served as the headquarters of President George Washington, who led about 6,000 militiamen through Bedford to suppress the Whiskey Rebellion in western Pennsylvania. Apart from a store window inserted in the first story, the exterior has changed little since construction, and the wide-board floors, plaster walls and many original doors and hardware survive.
Significance in brief: The house served as the office of Arthur St. Clair, the first prothonotary of the newly created Bedford County, and it is the only extant structure associated with him. It also served as President George Washington's headquarters from October 19 to 21, 1794, during the march against the Whiskey Rebellion.
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 74001750, listed November 19, 1974. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 123 Pitt St., Bedford |
|---|---|
| County | Bedford County |
| Listed | November 19, 1974 |
| Reference number | 74001750 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1770-1773, 1794 |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Military |
| Level of significance | National |
| National Historic Landmark | Yes, designated July 28, 1983 |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Now used as a bakery shop on the first floor; upper floors are a residence not open to visitors. |
| Coordinates | 40.01928, -78.50292 (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 74001750.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5399195
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.