Berk, Daniel, Log House
Why it's listed
Built in two sections in Albany Township, Berks County, the Daniel Berk Log House combines a log structure begun circa 1760 with a stone section added in the late 1700s. The log part measures 20 by 22 feet, has a gable roof, and is approached through a stone and wood porch that spans both sections. The Berk family settled along Maiden Creek after arriving in Pennsylvania in 1747 from the Palatinate, and they farmed the area through hard frontier conditions, including Indian raids into the late 1760s. Daniel Berk, born in 1768, farmed the family lands after his parents' death. The house passed from the first Daniel to his son Daniel (1796-1871) and on through five generations. It is valued as one of the oldest structures in Albany Township and as an example of a frontier house adapted across generations. The house remains in use as a residence.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is among the oldest structures in Albany Township and a fine example of a frontier house and of how it was adapted by successive generations of the Berk family. It is tied to the family's settlement history in Berks County, which lay on the frontier line during the Indian raids of the 1760s.
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 77001122, listed December 16, 1977. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | S of Albany on Maiden Creek, Albany Township, Albany |
|---|---|
| County | Berks County |
| Listed | December 16, 1977 |
| Reference number | 77001122 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Henry Berk (builder) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Exploration/Settlement, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The house is still being used as a home today. |
| Acreage | 0.2 |
| Coordinates | 40.60415, -75.87287 (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 77001122.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5216550
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.