Schaumboch's Tavern
Why it's listed
Built around 1793 of squared native Tuscarora sandstone and finished in white stucco, this one and a half story tavern stands about 1,100 feet up the side of Hawk Mountain, beside an old Indian trail. Its roof is a medium gable with dual shed dormers at the rear, and its interior has two rooms with plaster walls, pine moulding and exposed beams, most of them original. Early records describe it as a tavern serving travellers between the Great Valley and the western settlements. It was acquired in 1851 by Matthais Schaumboch and his wife Becky, who catered to farmers, hucksters, quarry workers and teamsters hauling anthracite. Local legends about murders attributed to Schaumboch gave the building its popular name. The Hawk Mountain Sanctuary Association acquired it in 1938 and has kept its appearance largely unchanged, apart from lighting, heating and plumbing.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the building is one of the finest and best preserved stone dwellings in this sparsely populated part of Berks County, and that it has changed little since its construction. It is also associated with local legends and with its use as a tavern serving travellers crossing the mountain.
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 79002166, listed November 20, 1979. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | NW of Hamburg on Hawk Mountain Rd., Albany Township, Hamburg |
|---|---|
| County | Berks County |
| Listed | November 20, 1979 |
| Reference number | 79002166 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | c.1793 |
| Architect / builder | Jacob Gerhardt |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Maintained by the Hawk Mountain Sanctuary Association as a residence for sanctuary personnel; in excellent and sound condition with the original floor plan unaltered. |
| Acreage | 1.3 |
| Within district | Hawk Mountain Sanctuary District |
| Coordinates | 40.63355, -75.98063 (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 79002166.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7430995
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.