Kemp's Hotel
Why it's listed
Kemp's Hotel is a limestone inn on the Old Easton Road, about a quarter mile northeast of Kutztown, in Berks County. Its oldest section, at the east end, bears a datestone reading George Kemp, 1795, and the hotel has taken in travelers for nearly two centuries. A stone addition of about 1852 extends the building to the west, and a one-story stone wing lies at the rear. The site's operation as a tavern is traced to Daniel Levan, who is listed among Maxatawny's most prosperous taxpayers in 1754 and was described as a taverner in 1767. His son-in-law George Kemp bought the hotel in 1785 and ran it for 53 years, serving as a justice of the peace for 34 years and a county commissioner from 1821 to 1824. His son John Kemp later kept the hotel until he was 89, and the business prospered enough to fund the 1852 addition. Among its recorded lodgers were John Adams, Judge Francis Dana and William Ellery, a signer of the Declaration of Independence.
Significance in brief: The nomination describes it as one of the oldest hotels in Berks County and a long-recognized local landmark, serving travelers on the Easton to Reading road for nearly two centuries. It is associated with the Levan and Kemp families who operated it, and with notable lodgers including John Adams, Judge Francis Dana and William Ellery.
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 78002344, listed December 19, 1978. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | E of Kutztown on US 222, Maxatawny Township, Kutztown |
|---|---|
| County | Berks County |
| Listed | December 19, 1978 |
| Reference number | 78002344 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1795-1852 |
| Areas of significance | Commerce |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Acreage | 1 |
| Coordinates | 40.52997, -75.76305 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
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 78002344.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6386993
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.