Oak Hall Historic District
Why it's listed
Oak Hall is a village in College Township, Centre County, Pennsylvania, and this district covers its western portion, built around the farm of General James Irvin. The centrepiece is the Irvin Mansion, a two-and-a-half-story limestone house begun around 1825 with a center hall plan and measuring 48 by 38 feet, one of the largest houses in the area at the time. Nearby stand a limestone barn of about the same date with a Palladian-style ventilator, and the foundation story of the Irvin grist mill, first built in 1822. Irvin, who began his career in Oak Hall as a miller and storekeeper, later became a prominent ironmaster and served in Congress from 1841 to 1845. The district also includes the Johnstonbaugh House, a vernacular dwelling with an early log section, and the Benjamin Peters House of about 1860. Together these buildings preserve the agricultural and milling character of the community after the 1971 highway project removed its core.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the district is significant in agriculture, industry, architecture and association with General James Irvin, an ironmaster and local leader. It holds the Irvin Mansion and barn, which show skilled use of native limestone, and the surviving portion of the Irvin grist mill and its races, which express the milling industry. The highway construction of 1971 removed the village core, which makes the surviving district a record of the community's history.
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 79002185, listed October 25, 1979. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | SR 871, College Township, Oak Hall |
|---|---|
| County | Centre County |
| Listed | October 25, 1979 |
| Reference number | 79002185 |
| Resource type | District |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architectural style | Georgian and Victorian elements; traditional center hall plan |
| Areas of significance | Agriculture, Architecture, Social History |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Eastern portion of the village demolished for the State College By-Pass in 1971; the Irvin grist mill was converted to a residence in 1961 with its upper stories removed. |
| Acreage | 35 |
| Coordinates | 40.79374, -77.80435 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
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 79002185.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7073531
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.