Russell House
Also known as: Pate Funeral Home
Why it's listed
Built in 1815-16 of Flemish bond brick, the Russell House stands on South Juliana Street in Bedford, Pennsylvania. Solomon Filler designed and built it for James M. Russell, a local attorney who was elected the town's first chief burgess in 1817. The five-bay, two-bay-deep house has a central doorway with a sunburst fanlight and triangular pediment hood, six-over-six windows with paneled or louvered shutters, and three gable dormers. Russell later added a two-story ell to the rear as his family grew to eight children, and a rear addition was built in 1920. The interior retains most of its original woodwork and several fireplaces. Its listing rests on its strength as a well-preserved example of Pennsylvania Georgian architecture and its role in shaping the character of Bedford's Public Square, where it now houses county offices.
Significance in brief: The house is presented as a fine example of a Pennsylvania Georgian style house, built for James M. Russell, an early Bedford attorney and the town's first chief burgess. It is described as in excellent condition and a distinguished complement to Bedford's Public Square.
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 79002165, listed June 19, 1979. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 203 S. Juliana St., Bedford |
|---|---|
| County | Bedford County |
| Listed | June 19, 1979 |
| Reference number | 79002165 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1815-16 |
| Architect / builder | Solomon Filler (builder/architect) |
| Architectural style | Late Georgian |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Used for county offices; interior described as in excellent condition; exterior sand-blasted and silicone-treated in recent years. |
| Acreage | 0.5 |
| Coordinates | 40.01691, -78.50354 (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 79002165.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7381567
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.