Spinner House
Why it's listed
Spinnerstown, in Bucks County, is the setting for this two-and-one-half story frame house with a two-story rear addition, built around 1860 in a vernacular Italianate manner. Its bracketed cornice and dentil-decorated frieze are modest but typical of the town. Three elevations are covered in shiplap siding, while the south elevation is laid in common-bond brick, an unusual combination for the area whose cause is not known. The main significance lies inside. Ceiling and wall stencils survive in the bedrooms and hallways, with intricate designs known from the master and middle bedrooms on the second floor. Much of the decoration was hand painted, which the nomination regards as evidence of a skilled artist. Few examples of mid-to-late nineteenth-century wall stenciling survive in Pennsylvania, and the house's examples are considered among the most elaborate. Investigation of the remaining decoration is continuing.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is significant mainly for its extensive and elaborate interior stencil work, which is among the few surviving examples of such decoration in Pennsylvania. The exterior is a well-preserved vernacular Italianate residence, typical of the town, with an unusual mix of brick and frame construction. The family connection to David Spinner, a Revolutionary War captain and early potter, is also noted.
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 79002175, listed June 22, 1979. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Spinnerstown and Sleepy Hollow Rds., Spinnerstown |
|---|---|
| County | Bucks County |
| Listed | June 22, 1979 |
| Reference number | 79002175 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | circa 1860 |
| Architectural style | Vernacular Italianate |
| Areas of significance | Art, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Well preserved; restoration work and ongoing investigation of the stencil decoration are noted. |
| Acreage | 0.5 |
| Coordinates | 40.43906, -75.43753 (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 79002175.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7577595
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.