Philips, Hardman, House
Also known as: Moshannon Hall; Halehurst
Why it's listed
Begun in 1813 by Hardman Philips, founder of Philipsburg, this house on Presque Isle and Fourth Streets was first built as a two and a half story Georgian house with a gable roof. Around 1884 a carriage porch, a bay addition and a gambrel roof with dormers created a full third story, and a two story wing was added at the end of the nineteenth century. The house retains much of its original woodwork and hardware and has 13 fireplaces. Philips also built a forge on Cold Stream in 1817 and a wood-screw factory in 1821, reported as the first in the United States. Later owners, the Morgan, Hale and Company, operated the lumbering and forge enterprises and built the Tyrone and Clearfield Railroad. Its association with the town's founding and its industrial history account for its listing.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is significant as the home of Philipsburg's founder and as a landmark in the development of the town and its lumbering and iron industries. Its original Georgian-style plan and interior woodwork are also cited as retained features.
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 78002364, listed September 18, 1978. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Presquisle and 4th Sts., Philipsburg |
|---|---|
| County | Centre County |
| Listed | September 18, 1978 |
| Reference number | 78002364 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architect / builder | Hardman Philips (builder/architect) |
| Architectural style | Georgian style (original house); later gambrel roof alterations |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Industry, Exploration/Settlement |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Document describes the house as in good condition with an altered exterior and some non-working fireplaces; current use not stated beyond the 1978 description of rooms. |
| Acreage | 0.8 |
| Within district | Philipsburg Historic District |
| Coordinates | 40.89514, -78.21573 (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 78002364.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5656260
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.