Fordhook Farm
Also known as: Burpee Farm
Why it's listed
Fordhook is a sixteen-acre portion of a larger farm on Lower State Road in Doylestown, Bucks County, holding twelve contributing buildings and two structures dating from the late eighteenth to the early twentieth century. Its core is a fieldstone main house, barn, springhouse and icehouse from the working farm, with the house, barn and springhouse listed in the 1798 Federal Direct Tax for New Britain Township. W. Atlee Burpee bought the farm in 1888 and used it as the first experimental and seed production farm of the Burpee Seed Company, which grew into the nation's foremost seed business. Hundreds of flower and vegetable varieties were developed here, new hybrids were invented, and the company's annual catalogue was designed on the property. Seed trials and visiting students linked the farm to agricultural education, and Delaware Valley College, begun in 1896 on adjoining land, was closely associated with it. The seed house, greenhouses and other Burpee-era buildings survive largely intact. The main house combines Federal and Greek Revival interiors from the early 1800s with an addition designed by Charles Lee of Philadelphia around 1902.
Significance in brief: The farm was the first experimental and seed production farm of the Burpee Seed Company, which was purchased by W. Atlee Burpee in 1888 and developed into the nation's foremost seed business. Its buildings are cited as the best preserved examples of seed farm buildings in Bucks County, and they represent the conversion of eighteenth and nineteenth century farm buildings into a gentleman's farm estate. The farm also contributed to agricultural education and science through its seed trials.
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 87000674, listed April 30, 1987. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 105 New Britain Rd., Doylestown |
|---|---|
| County | Bucks County |
| Listed | April 30, 1987 |
| Reference number | 87000674 |
| Resource type | District |
| Period of significance | c. 1760-1937 |
| Architectural style | Federal, Greek Revival, Colonial Revival, and Queen Anne (cottage) |
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Agriculture, Education, Science, Architecture |
| Level of significance | National |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Buildings are described as well maintained with good integrity; the greenhouses continue to be used by Delaware Valley College. |
| Acreage | 16 |
| Coordinates | 40.29794, -75.14991 (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 87000674.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5468080
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.