Neff Round Barn
Why it's listed
Built around 1910 on Route 45 west of Old Fort, near Centre Hall, this 88-foot-diameter dairy barn rises to 56 feet at its louvered cupola. Its farm-quarried limestone foundation supports a white pine frame with board-and-batten siding on the cattle floor and lap siding on the mow floor. Calvin R. Neff designed it for his own farm, and local carpenter Aaron Thomas built it. Neff was reportedly inspired by round barns he had seen from a train window, though he had never seen their interiors. The plan arranges a central silo, grain bins, a circular mow and a circular cattle floor so that wagons can circle the building, reducing the labor of moving feed. It was probably the first barn of this type in the Nittany Valley. Its red paint and white trim make it a well-known local landmark, and it is regarded as an example of local ingenuity in agricultural building.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the barn is significant in architecture, agriculture and invention for its unusual circular plan, designed to reduce the labor of moving silage, grain and hay. It is described as the first barn of this type in the Nittany Valley and one of only two surviving round barns in Centre County. It is also regarded as a well-known local landmark.
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 79002181, listed May 2, 1979. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | S of Centre Hall off PA 45, Potter Township, Centre Hall |
|---|---|
| County | Centre County |
| Listed | May 2, 1979 |
| Reference number | 79002181 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | c. 1910 |
| Architect / builder | Calvin R. Neff (designer); Aaron Thomas (builder) |
| Areas of significance | Agriculture, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The structure is in excellent condition and still used to store hay and farm vehicles, but no longer in a full farm operation. |
| Acreage | 0.3 |
| Coordinates | 40.81757, -77.70129 (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 79002181.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q15261472
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.