Lowrie, Sen. Walter, House
Why it's listed
Built in 1828 and occupied by Senator Walter Lowrie, this two and one half story brick house in Butler has a gable roof, a cut stone foundation and a slate roof. Three pedimented dormers face South Jackson Street, and a two-story shed-roofed wing extends from the rear. The brick is laid in common bond and was handmade in the local area about 1825. The front porch has large rounded columns, and a stained-glass window and new front door were added around 1870 to 1880. Lowrie served in the United States Senate from 1812 to 1818 and was the only United States Senator from Butler County. He was then elected Secretary of the United States Senate in 1819 and held that office until 1836. Afterward he spent thirty-four years as Secretary of the National Board of Foreign Missions of the Presbyterian Church. The house is regarded as a well preserved example of early vernacular architecture in Western Pennsylvania.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is a well preserved example of early Western Pennsylvania vernacular architecture. It is associated with Walter Lowrie, who served in the United States Senate, was later Secretary of the United States Senate, and then served for thirty-four years as Secretary of the National Board of Foreign Missions of the Presbyterian Church.
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 79002177, listed May 1, 1979. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | W. Diamond and S. Jackson Sts., Butler |
|---|---|
| County | Butler County |
| Listed | May 1, 1979 |
| Reference number | 79002177 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architect / builder | Senator Walter Lowrie |
| Architectural style | Early Western Pennsylvania vernacular architecture |
| Areas of significance | Politics/Government, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The house has been carefully maintained and is still owned by heirs of Senator Lowrie. |
| Acreage | 0.3 |
| Within district | Butler Historic District |
| Coordinates | 40.85835, -79.89613 (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 79002177.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7449887
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.