Dale, Felix, Stone House
Also known as: L.R. Parks House
Why it's listed
Built in 1823 by Felix Dale beside his mills along Spring Creek near Lemont, this gabled, five-bay stone farmhouse is laid in coursed rubble with quoined corners. Its front follows a Georgian center hall layout, but the wing to the right of the hall is shorter than usual, apparently intended as a kitchen rather than a drawing room, giving the plan an unusual asymmetry. A rear veranda with squared posts and a shed roof follows the back of the house. Inside, original moldings, doors, stair rails and mantelpieces survive, including carved stair brackets and an ornate upstairs mantel with Ionic columns. The Dale family's milling operation shaped settlement, transportation and farming in the area between Lemont and Oak Hall. Felix's father, Christian Dale, was among the first settlers in the county. The house is valued for its craftsmanship and its unusual plan.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is architecturally significant for a variation on the Georgian center hall plan, with a shortened kitchen wing, a rear veranda, and high-quality original woodwork. It also cites the Dale family's role in early milling, settlement and transportation in the county.
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 82003777, listed April 20, 1982. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Rt. 871, Lemont |
|---|---|
| County | Centre County |
| Listed | April 20, 1982 |
| Reference number | 82003777 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architectural style | Georgian |
| Areas of significance | Industry, Exploration/Settlement, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Exterior is generally intact and interior is described as in excellent condition; the form also marks the resource as altered and notes the mills have been removed. |
| Acreage | 0.3 |
| Coordinates | 40.80318, -77.81331 (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 82003777.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5442182
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.