Ivyland Historic District
Why it's listed
Laid out in 1873 on a grid of four east-west boulevards and four narrower north-south avenues, Ivyland was planned by Edwin Lacey beside the North Penn Railroad, with official rail service beginning March 9, 1874. Its roughly 130 contributing resources date from 1873 to 1931 and show vernacular versions of popular late nineteenth-century styles, including Second Empire, Gothic Revival, Italianate, Queen Anne, Colonial Revival and bungalow forms. Most are two and a half story frame dwellings with front porches. The former Temperance House hotel, built on a mansard roof plan by local contractor Joseph A. Carrell, is among the most elaborate buildings. The district is regarded as a well-preserved example of a railroad-era village, and it has retained its plan and architectural character despite development around its edges.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the district is an excellent example of a railroad era village in Bucks County, with a concentration of late 19th and early 20th century residential, commercial and institutional buildings that remain largely intact. Its buildings show popular styles of the period, including Second Empire, Gothic Revival, Italianate, Queen Anne and Colonial Revival. The town's frame construction and its development as a summer resort are presented as distinguishing it from other Bucks County railroad towns.
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 02000225, listed March 21, 2002. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Bouned by Jacksonbille Rd., Wilson, Greeley, and Chase Aves., Ivyland |
|---|---|
| County | Bucks County |
| Listed | March 21, 2002 |
| Reference number | 02000225 |
| Resource type | District |
| Period of significance | 1873-1931 |
| Architect / builder | Carrell, Joseph A. (builder of the hotel) |
| Architectural style | Late Victorian; Late 19th & 20th Century Revivals |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Acreage | 42 |
| Coordinates | 40.25046, -75.07220 (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 02000225.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6100001
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.