Buck, A. W., House
Why it's listed
Built in 1889 for the Ebensburg banker A. W. Buck, this two and one-half story brick house on the west side of town is a high style Queen Anne residence with an asymmetrical plan and an eight-sided three-story tower. A north wing with a ballroom and a second tower was added in 1903 for the wedding of Buck's daughter, Blanch. The interior is unusually well preserved, with a parquet floor of cherry and oak, decorative art glass, marble and faux marble fireplaces, a beamed oak entry ceiling, and an oak staircase with turned spindles. The house passed to the Sisters of St. Joseph in 1923, who used it as a convent and altered some rooms, and the Cambria County Historical Society acquired it in 1990. It is regarded as one of the best preserved Victorian mansions in Ebensburg, and its intact interior is the main reason for its listing.
Significance in brief: The house is significant as a high style Queen Anne residence that retains a high degree of architectural integrity in both its exterior and interior features. Its interior finishes, intact fireplaces, woodwork and layout are described as unusual for the town and county. The nomination also ties the house to A. W. Buck, a prominent local banker.
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 95000521, listed May 12, 1995. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 615 N. Center St., Edensburg |
|---|---|
| County | Cambria County |
| Listed | May 12, 1995 |
| Reference number | 95000521 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1889-1903 |
| Architectural style | Queen Anne |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Used by the Cambria County Historical Society as a museum and for storage of collections; the historical society has plans for further restoration. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 40.48813, -78.67244 (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 95000521.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q4647438
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.