Bechdel II, Christian, House
Why it's listed
Built in 1831 by Christian Bechdel II on land he inherited from his father, this two-story brick farmhouse in Centre County, Pennsylvania, follows a five-bay, center-hall plan with Flemish bond on the front facade. Its most distinctive feature is a Palladian window above the front entrance, and the front porch is executed in Chinese Chippendale style. The house retains its original interior woodwork, hand-wrought hardware, and much of its original paint scheme, with louvered upper shutters painted green and lower shutters white. The Bechdel family settled the Bald Eagle Creek valley in 1790, and the house is regarded as one of the first attempts at permanent farm settlement in the valley. The family has occupied it continuously, and it is considered a rare survivor in an area where most comparable homes were lost. Its setting on high ground near the Sayers Dam has spared it from the flood works that destroyed others.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is a rare, largely unaltered survivor in the Bald Eagle Valley, representing an early permanent farm settlement and the original way of farm life. Its Palladian window, Chinese Chippendale front porch and original paint and shutter scheme are described as uncommon features for the area. The statement also ties the family's land to early settlement and transportation along Bald Eagle Creek.
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 82003775, listed March 1, 1982. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | S of Blanchard on Liberty Rd., Liberty Township, Blanchard |
|---|---|
| County | Centre County |
| Listed | March 1, 1982 |
| Reference number | 82003775 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architect / builder | Christian Bechdel II (builder) |
| Architectural style | Georgian |
| Areas of significance | Agriculture, Exploration/Settlement, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Continuously occupied by the family and little changed; the house is surrounded by the flood pool of the Foster Joseph Sayers Dam. |
| Acreage | 0.1 |
| Coordinates | 41.05868, -77.60416 (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 82003775.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5109323
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.