Vansant Farmhouse
Also known as: Overlook Valley Farm
Why it's listed
Stone farmhouse in Rushland, Bucks County, built in two stages: an earlier two-story section dated 1762 and a front addition of about 1820. The datestone "CLV G R 1768" is associated with the Vansant family, who settled the site in 1716 after arriving from Holland by way of Long Island, New York. The early section has a single large room on each floor, a stairway on its north wall, and an enormous cooking fireplace opening into a kitchen that was originally set several steps below the main floor with an earthen floor. The newer section, probably built by Jesse Worthington, who bought the property from the Carver family in 1818, is stuccoed stone with two rooms on each floor. The house is valued for its plain 18th-century character and as a rare survivor of early farm residences, many of which were replaced by larger farmsteads. A stone-arched root cellar, a mid-19th-century carriage house, and a barn stand nearby on the five-acre tract.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is an austere, unpretentious example of an 18th-century farm residence. It describes the building as a rare surviving reminder of early farmhouse types, which were often replaced by larger farmsteads. The original stone section and its cooking fireplace are described as intact features of that early type.
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 77001130, listed August 2, 1977. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | N of Rushland on Ceder Lane, Rushland |
|---|---|
| County | Bucks County |
| Listed | August 2, 1977 |
| Reference number | 77001130 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1768 |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | A functioning barn is in the area; the form does not otherwise state current use. |
| Acreage | 0.5 |
| Coordinates | 40.27069, -75.01855 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
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 77001130.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7915174
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.