Siegfried's Dale Farm
Also known as: Rodale Research Center
Why it's listed
Along Siegfried's Road near Kutztown, the farm is a cluster of houses, barns and outbuildings begun on land Johannes Siegfried acquired in 1732. The oldest surviving dwelling carries a 1790 date plaque and is built of local rubble stone with long and short corner work. Nearby stand a stone center-hall house from the early nineteenth century and a bank barn with a datestone reading 1819, enlarged in 1905 by Charles Grim, who married into the family. The barnyard buildings, including corn cribs, small barns and a calving barn, form a small court that the nomination links to medieval German farmstead planning. A model brick school house of 1906 completes the group. The farm stayed with Siegfried descendants into the twentieth century, and its buildings and layout have survived with unusual completeness. The family also produced a Revolutionary War officer who was a confidant of General Washington, and the Moravian missions of the region drew on family support.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the farm is one of the best preserved, continuously operated farmsteads in the state, documenting the development of German agricultural architecture in Pennsylvania. Its barns, including a large bank barn reputed to be the largest in Berks County, and its barnyard layout reflect German farming traditions. The Siegfried family also had wider importance through Moravian mission support and a Revolutionary War officer.
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 84003115, listed May 10, 1984. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Siegfried's Rd., Maxatawny Township, Maxatawny |
|---|---|
| County | Berks County |
| Listed | May 10, 1984 |
| Reference number | 84003115 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1790-1905 |
| Architectural style | Georgian center hall plan; Pennsylvania German bank barn |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Community Planning and Development, Agriculture, Education, Exploration/Settlement, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Used as an agricultural research center; school building converted to an orientation facility, and the site is accessible to the public. |
| Acreage | 37 |
| Coordinates | 40.54965, -75.72330 (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 84003115.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7510601
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.