Wanner, Peter, Mansion
Why it's listed
Overlooking Reading from a terrace at the foot of Mount Penn, this stone mansion at 1401 Walnut Street was built in 1889 for Peter D. Wanner, a lawyer turned foundry owner who became one of the city's leading industrialists. Architect Edward K. Mull, a former carpenter and builder, gave it a T-shaped plan, jerkinhead gables, a broad porch and a tall central tower with a pyramidal roof. The walls are squared white limestone quarried from Mount Penn, trimmed with red sandstone arches and an uncommon blue mortar pointing, unusual in a city that favored brick. Inside, the oak stair, cypress millwork and original chandelier survive with their natural finishes, never painted. The house held fourteen rooms when built and was later divided into apartments, yet its plan and materials remain largely untouched. It was listed for its association with Wanner, its architecture, and its exceptional state of preservation as the work of an important local architect.
Significance in brief: The house was the principal residence of Peter D. Wanner, a leading Reading industrialist, and is an intact, well-preserved example of a Victorian mansion by local architect Edward K. Mull. It is notable for its unusual white limestone walls, red arches and rare blue pointing, and for its hillside site overlooking the city and the factories Wanner operated.
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 87001950, listed November 5, 1987. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 1401 Walnut St., Reading |
|---|---|
| County | Berks County |
| Listed | November 5, 1987 |
| Reference number | 87001950 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architect / builder | Edward K. Mull, architect |
| Architectural style | Victorian with Queen Anne detail |
| Areas of significance | Industry, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied; converted to apartments around the 1930s or 1940s, condition listed as excellent, with original plan and woodwork largely intact. |
| Acreage | 0.8 |
| Coordinates | 40.33857, -75.90724 (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 87001950.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7177587
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.