Goodwin Acres
Why it's listed
Built of coursed rubble fieldstone, the Goodwin Homestead near West Chester began as a stone house constructed around 1736 by Robert Roberts on a 230-acre tract. In 1749 Thomas Goodwin, a former Church of England minister from Llandewy, Merionethshire, who had become a Quaker, bought the land and enlarged the house that year. Further additions followed c. 1840, and a 1941 enclosed porch and library were added later. The property passed to Goodwin's son and then to his daughter, Mary M. Goodwin, who married Samuel R. Downing in 1861. Downing, a farmer, served on the state board of agriculture under two governors, and the Downing family was involved in founding Downingtown. The site also includes a mid-19th-century stone bank barn, a wooden silo and a stone springhouse. The farmstead is regarded as a significant part of early Chester County history.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the farmstead is significant for its early stone house, which was built c. 1736 and enlarged c. 1749 and 1840, and for its association with the Goodwin and Downing families. It also cites the barn as a fine example of a Chester County stone barn and notes the family's role in local agricultural and civic life.
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 80003471, listed June 27, 1980. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 600 Reservoir Rd., West Chester |
|---|---|
| County | Chester County |
| Listed | June 27, 1980 |
| Reference number | 80003471 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The house is in good repair; a 1941 enclosed porch and library were added. |
| Acreage | 14.9 |
| Coordinates | 39.98295, -75.55419 (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 80003471.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5583670
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.