Schlegel, Christian, Farm
Why it's listed
Located east of Fleetwood in the limestone Great Valley of Berks County, this working farm centers on a two-bay stone farmhouse dated 1789 and a frame bank barn built in 1887, with its roof rebuilt in 1947 on the original stone gable walls. The farmstead includes a stone summer kitchen, a stone ground cellar, a smoke house, and a stone wagonshed with carefully coursed masonry, along with sheds, privies, and chicken houses. The farm was worked by a family that acquired the land in 1738 and has been passed down through the same family without deeds or recorded sales. The nomination regards it as an example of the diversified family farm that turned to dairying in the early twentieth century. Its long unbroken agricultural use and well-kept buildings make it one of the best-preserved farms of its type in the county.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the farm represents late 18th and 19th century diversified family farms that shifted to dairying in the early 20th century. It is also described as unusual for having been passed down through one family since the settlement period, with a well-preserved set of farm buildings, including a stone wagonshed with finely coursed masonry.
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 92000938, listed July 29, 1992. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Fleetwood--Lyons Rd., Richmond Township, Fleetwood |
|---|---|
| County | Berks County |
| Listed | July 29, 1992 |
| Reference number | 92000938 |
| Resource type | District |
| Period of significance | 1789-1940 |
| Architectural style | Other: Vernacular House; Pennsylvania Bank Barn |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Agriculture, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | In continuous agricultural use by the same family; the present owner operates it as a working farm with dairy cows and crops. |
| Acreage | 136 |
| Coordinates | 40.45934, -75.82171 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
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 92000938.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5110107
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.