Rhone, Leonard, House
Also known as: Rhoneymeade
Why it's listed
Built in 1853 on the Rhone family homestead in Potter Township near Centre Hall, this brick Georgian farmhouse is L-shaped with five bays and a central hall. Its common-bond brick walls rest on limestone foundations, and its interior retains five fireplaces, paneled doors, and original hardware, including a cellar door latch. Family estate papers credit Daniel Ebright with making the brick and digging the basement, with Leonard Rhone helping. Leonard Rhone lived here for most of his life and devoted himself to farming from 1859. He served as the third Master of the Pennsylvania State Grange from 1880 to 1898 and was a leading promoter of the Grange Picnic, later the Grange Encampment and Centre County Fair. Through the Grange he backed rural mail delivery, a state department of agriculture, and tax equalization. He also served in the state legislature in 1885 and 1887.
Significance in brief: The house is listed for its association with Leonard Rhone (1838-1917), a farmer who served as the third Master of the Pennsylvania State Grange and as an early promoter of the Grange Encampment, now the Centre County Fair, and of rural mail delivery. The nomination also cites the house's largely intact interior woodwork and fireplaces as a notable example of local Georgian-style building.
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 85003448, listed October 31, 1985. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Off PA 45, Centre |
|---|---|
| County | Centre County |
| Listed | October 31, 1985 |
| Reference number | 85003448 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1853-1917 |
| Architectural style | Georgian |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Agriculture, Social History |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Restored after recent improvements; the outbuilding is the only accessory structure retaining its earlier appearance. |
| Acreage | 2.3 |
| Coordinates | 40.80901, -77.72074 (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 85003448.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6525668
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.