Hayes, Jacob, House
Also known as: Site #49-5
Why it's listed
Built in 1841 for Jacob Hayes, a grandson of the first Hayes settler, this two-story stone house sits on a knoll north of Route 162 near the West Branch Brandywine River in Newlin Township. Its L-shaped plan has a gable roof of wood shingles, three brick chimneys, and wrought-iron porches, including a lacy ornate porch on the five-bay south facade. The main room retains fireplaces at each end, and the enclosed back stairway and parts of the L-wing are decorated with black and white wavy glazing, a technique called corn-cobbing. The woodwork, plaster, and floors largely date from construction. The house is valued for its nearly intact transitional Federal/Greek Revival character and original interior. It is also associated with the poet John Russell Hayes, who wrote much of his Brandywine verse while working in the house.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is architecturally significant as a nearly intact transitional Federal/Greek Revival dwelling with an original interior, including notable wavy glazing decoration. It also argues literary significance because John Russell Hayes, the Poet of the Brandywine, wrote much of his verse while summering there.
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 85002356, listed September 16, 1985. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Rt. 162, Newlin Twp. |
|---|---|
| County | Chester County |
| Listed | September 16, 1985 |
| Reference number | 85002356 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1825-1849 |
| Architectural style | Federal/Greek Revival |
| Areas of significance | Literature, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still owned, occupied, and carefully maintained by the Hayes family, according to the nomination. |
| Acreage | 4.5 |
| Coordinates | 39.93590, -75.73501 (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 85002356.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6118725
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.