Bliss, Phillip Paul, House
Why it's listed
Built in 1863-1864 in Rome, Bradford County, Pennsylvania, this clapboard wood-frame house has a two-story front section, a one-story rear ell and a simple vernacular plan with Greek Revival touches such as eave returns. Its original pine floors, plain moldings and many original door hinges and latches survive, although water damage led to replacement of plaster in three rooms with masonite. The house is important because it was the home of gospel songwriter Phillip Paul Bliss, who bought the plot and had it built shortly after marrying Lucy J. Young in 1859 and moving to Rome as a young man. Bliss used it as his home in Pennsylvania for much of his career and is said to have written some of his hymns there. He later worked in Chicago and toured with evangelist Dwight L. Moody, writing more than 300 hymns, including Hold the Fort and Pull for the Shore. He and his wife died in a train wreck in Ashtabula, Ohio, in 1876. The house is the building most closely tied to his life and career.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is significant for its association with Phillip Paul Bliss, a nineteenth-century composer of gospel songs whose hymns were widely used in revival meetings. It was his longest-held home in Pennsylvania and the place where he wrote some of his hymns. The house retains most of its original interior and exterior 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 86000865, listed April 24, 1986. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Main St., Rome |
|---|---|
| County | Bradford County |
| Listed | April 24, 1986 |
| Reference number | 86000865 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1863-1864 |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival influence on a vernacular house type, per the description |
| Areas of significance | Performing Arts |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Good condition with good integrity; original interior and exterior features largely retained. |
| Acreage | 0.4 |
| Coordinates | 41.85809, -76.34199 (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 86000865.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7185777
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.