Lunn's Tavern
Also known as: The Wilkins Property
Why it's listed
Built around 1760 as a two-story stone house in Strickersville, Chester County, Lunn's Tavern grew into a tavern after Thomas Lunn bought the lot in November 1758 and received a license in 1766. Lunn had petitioned for it in 1764, noting that the township's business was conducted there. The tavern operated under the Lunn family, with a nephew, William Lunn, running it from 1793 to 1797, and Thomas Lunn resuming in 1798. His widow, Phoebe Lunn, continued until 1800, and other operators ran it until 1810. In 1830 a brick addition was attached perpendicular to the original section, and the building was later stuccoed. Its best-known event came on September 26, 1777, when Thomas McKean, then President of Delaware, stopped there and wrote a letter to George Read in Philadelphia. The letter describes Delaware's situation and McKean's resignation request, and it links three Delaware signers of the Declaration of Independence.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the tavern's long commercial operation from the 1760s to about 1810 and its association with Thomas McKean, who wrote a notable letter as President of Delaware while stopping there on September 26, 1777. The letter links the names of three Delaware signers of the Declaration of Independence. The building is also presented as an example of late colonial tavern architecture in the region.
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 79002204, listed October 25, 1979. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | PA 896, Strickersville |
|---|---|
| County | Chester County |
| Listed | October 25, 1979 |
| Reference number | 79002204 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | c. 1760-1810 |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Politics/Government, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Exterior described as stuccoed with a standing seam metal roof over original shingles; condition marked good in the form. |
| Acreage | 0.1 |
| Coordinates | 39.73514, -75.79344 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
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 79002204.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6704407
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.