Fountain House
Also known as: Girard Trust Company
Why it's listed
Fountain House in Doylestown was begun around 1758 by William Doyle as a tavern, and it grew through several stone sections, with its third story added in 1830 and its present eight-bay front completed by 1849. Its later exterior changes include a mansard roof added by 1876 and Victorian porch work that was later removed. Through successive owners it operated as an inn for about 175 years, and it hosted dances and concerts in a large second-floor ballroom with a musicians' gallery. Its history includes a Tory owner whose property was seized and sold at public auction during the Revolutionary War, and the town's first post office in 1802. Henry Ford tried several times in the 1920s to buy its antique furnishings. The building was restored by Girard Trust Company in the early 1970s and now houses a bank branch, and it is regarded as the oldest surviving early tavern in Doylestown.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues that Fountain House has been the center of Doylestown life for over 200 years and is the oldest of the town's seven early taverns and the only one still standing. It served as the town's first post office in 1802 and as a way station on an early Philadelphia to Easton stagecoach line. Its restoration by Girard Trust Company is presented as a sign of business interest in historic preservation.
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 72001095, listed March 16, 1972. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | State and Main Sts., Doylestown |
|---|---|
| County | Bucks County |
| Listed | March 16, 1972 |
| Reference number | 72001095 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1758-1830 |
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Recently purchased and restored by Girard Trust Company for use as its Doylestown branch office. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 40.31008, -75.13048 (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 72001095.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7734967
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.