Everhart, William, Buildings
Also known as: Everhart-Lincoln Building
Why it's listed
Built around 1833 in West Chester as a three-story brick commercial building, the Everhart Building is a Federal-style townhouse with a New York type basement level. It was constructed for William Everhart, a Revolutionary War veteran and entrepreneur who laid out streets and built many structures in the borough during the 1830s and 1840s. Over its history it housed attorneys, a printer, real estate and insurance firms, and most notably the newspaper Independent Herald, later the Chester County Times. Its newspaper period gives the building its chief importance. In February 1860 the first biography of Abraham Lincoln appeared in the Chester County Times there, sent to be printed by Jesse Fell, a native of West Chester and an Illinois associate of Lincoln. The biography was prepared from Lincoln's own notes and introduced him to the public as a potential presidential candidate. The building remained in the Everhart family until 1905.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the building is significant for its long use by newspapers, most notably the Independent Herald and later the Chester County Times, and for an 1860 biography of Abraham Lincoln printed there. It is also tied to William Everhart, a Revolutionary War soldier and entrepreneur who built many buildings in West Chester and served in Congress.
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 79002206, listed July 17, 1979. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 28 W. Market St., West Chester |
|---|---|
| County | Chester County |
| Listed | July 17, 1979 |
| Reference number | 79002206 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | c. 1833 |
| Architectural style | Federal |
| Areas of significance | Commerce |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The building is described as well preserved and altered; it has housed several commercial establishments since its construction. |
| Acreage | 0.1 |
| Within district | West Chester Historic District (Boundary Increase) |
| Coordinates | 39.95918, -75.60542 (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 79002206.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q8008711
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.