Old Swede's House
Also known as: Mouns Jones House
Why it's listed
Built in 1716 by Mouns Jones, one of the early Swedish settlers of the area, this two-and-a-half-story stone house stands in what is now Amity Township, near the Schuylkill River. It measures 24 by 30 feet, is built of coursed, squared stone, and retains about half of its original mud and lime pargeting. Its large kitchen fireplace, a corner fireplace, a winding staircase and a carved datestone survive, though floods and a fire in the 1950s destroyed much of the second floor. Jones took up 10,000 acres with fourteen other Swedes in 1701 and acted as an agent for local Indians in dealings with the provincial government. The house is regarded as the oldest surviving house in Berks County and one of the few remaining examples of a Swedish settler's dwelling. It was later used as a ferry house and for a time was known as Lamb's Inn. It has been restored by the Historic Preservation Trust of Berks County.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is the oldest surviving house in Berks County and one of the few remaining examples of a Swedish settler's house. It is linked to Mouns Jones, who took up land in 1701 with other Swedes and who served as an agent for local Indians in dealings with the provincial government. Its corner fireplace, casement windows and datestone are cited as distinctive features.
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 74001751, listed January 21, 1974. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Old Philadelphia Pike, Douglassville |
|---|---|
| County | Berks County |
| Listed | January 21, 1974 |
| Reference number | 74001751 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1716 |
| Areas of significance | Exploration/Settlement, Architecture, Social History |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The roof collapsed during a fire in the 1950s, and the house has been restored by the Historic Preservation Trust of Berks County. |
| Acreage | 2 |
| Coordinates | 40.25334, -75.72806 (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 74001751.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7085169
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.