Harvard, David, House
Also known as: Former Quarters of Lee and Bradford
Why it's listed
Built in the late 1760s, around 1766, by David Harvard on land he acquired from his father, this two and a half story stone farmhouse in Valley Forge, Chester County, Pennsylvania, is typical of the farmhouses early settlers built in the county. Its stucco-covered walls, central front door, and original six-room plan remain recognizable, though a later rear wing added four rooms and a large screened porch was placed across the front. During the winter encampment of 1777-1778, Major General Charles Lee and Colonel William Bradford used the house as quarters. Bradford later served as the second Attorney General of the United States, beginning in 1794, after eleven years in the same post in Pennsylvania. In the 1880s Alexander J. Cassatt, president of the Pennsylvania Railroad, bought the Harvard farm as part of a country estate for raising horses, and the house housed the manager of Chesterbrook Farm for several years. It is regarded as significant for its association with the encampment and for its regional building type.
Significance in brief: The house was used as quarters by Major General Charles Lee and Colonel William Bradford during the winter encampment of 1777-1778. The nomination also ties it to Bradford's later career as Attorney General of the United States and presents the house as a typical early Chester County farmhouse.
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 72001107, listed October 26, 1972. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | S of Valley Forge off U.S. 76, Valley Forge |
|---|---|
| County | Chester County |
| Listed | October 26, 1972 |
| Reference number | 72001107 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | David Harvard (builder) |
| Architectural style | Farmhouse typical of early Chester County settlers |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Military |
| Level of significance | National |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as a deteriorated, deserted farmhouse that awaits possible inclusion in a housing development. |
| Acreage | 1 |
| Within district | Valley Forge National Historical Park |
| Coordinates | 40.07345, -75.46275 (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.
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
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 72001107.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5234790
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.