Coates, Moses, Jr., Farm
Also known as: Meadow Brook Farm
Why it's listed
Built on a hill in Schuylkill Township near Phoenixville, the Moses Coates Farm is a complex of traditional buildings including a farmhouse, bank barn, carriage house, and two spring houses. The core of the farmhouse was begun about 1754 as a two-and-a-half-story stone house with Georgian features, including a symmetrical facade and end chimneys. Later additions, including a kitchen wing completed in 1896, changed its plan into an ell shape. The farm's significance lies in its Revolutionary War connections. During the army's encampment at Valley Forge and the period of late 1777 and early 1778, the house sheltered officers including Generals Gates and Mifflin and Benedict Arnold, whose guard of twelve men also stayed there. Moses Coates Jr. served in the Chester County militia, supplied food to the troops, and helped treat wounded soldiers after the Battle of Brandywine. The farm was converted into a golf course in 1933.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the farm is significant for its relationship to events and personalities of the American Revolution, as the Coates family hosted American officers during the 1777-1778 campaign and aided the army at Valley Forge and wounded soldiers after Brandywine. The farmhouse also preserves traditional Georgian building forms that were altered over time.
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 84003186, listed May 3, 1984. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 1416 State Rd., Schuykill Township, Phoenixville |
|---|---|
| County | Chester County |
| Listed | May 3, 1984 |
| Reference number | 84003186 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1754, add. 1896, 1930 |
| Architectural style | Georgian characteristics |
| Areas of significance | Military |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The farm was converted into a 9-hole golf course in 1933 and is now integrated into a 20th century scheme with a golf course and modern building. |
| Acreage | 3.3 |
| Coordinates | 40.11649, -75.52253 (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 84003186.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6915742
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.