Liberty Hall
Why it's listed
Built in 1772 by Abel Roberts, Liberty Hall is a two-story fieldstone building with one room on each floor, measuring 15 feet wide and 15 feet deep. It was erected on the main crossroads in the center of original Richland, now Quakertown, along the roads to Newtown, Bethlehem, Durham and Philadelphia. It was the first permanent building in the town and served as a center of social and political activity. The Declaration of Independence was first read in Richland from this location. In September 1777, the Liberty Bell was hidden behind the building while being moved from Philadelphia to Northamptontowne, and the building has carried the name Liberty Hall since that event. Its half gambrel roof is described as the only one of its kind in Bucks County and probably Pennsylvania. A farm house and store built nearby in 1805 spared it from later additions. The Borough of Quakertown acquired the building in 1977.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the building is significant as the first permanent building in Richland, a center of social and political activity, and the place where the Declaration of Independence was first read in the town. It is also tied to the hiding of the Liberty Bell behind the building in September 1777, which gave it its name. Its half gambrel roof is described as the only one of its type in Bucks County and probably Pennsylvania.
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 78002358, listed January 26, 1978. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 1237 W. Broad St., Quakertown |
|---|---|
| County | Bucks County |
| Listed | January 26, 1978 |
| Reference number | 78002358 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1772-1777 |
| Architect / builder | Abel Roberts (builder) |
| Architectural style | Simple colonial Quaker construction |
| Areas of significance | Exploration/Settlement, Politics/Government, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | In 1952 the building and a small lot were separated from the William Green Store & House and used for commercial purposes; in May 1977 the Borough of Quakertown acquired it. |
| Acreage | 0.2 |
| Within district | Quakertown Historic District |
| Coordinates | 40.44295, -75.35159 (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 78002358.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6541746
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.