Michener, Nathan, House
Approximate location: the National Park Service places this pin arbitrarily within the property, not at a surveyed point (stated accuracy ±12 m).
Why it's listed
Built of random fieldstone in the early 19th century near Bucktown in Chester County, Pennsylvania, this 2½ story house has a gabled roof, end chimneys and heavy boxed cornices. Its four-bay front and rear and two-bay gable ends follow local building traditions, though the house also marks the start of the shift toward Greek Revival design. The main entrance was moved to the west facade, and a fieldstone sunporch was added on the east side. Much of the interior woodwork survives, and the open stairway, with its curving wall lined with carved reed wood, is noted as unusually refined for a farmhouse in the area. The house is associated with Dr. Nathan Michener, who bought the property in 1813. He trained in medicine under Dr. Benjamin Rush, published in national medical journals, became a noted astronomer, compiled an almanac, and served as Justice of the Peace for Chester County for 28 years.
Significance in brief: The house is significant for its association with Dr. Nathan Michener, a Chester County physician who bought the property in 1813 and was also an astronomer, almanac compiler and Justice of the Peace. Architecturally, it is regarded as representing local fieldstone design tradition while showing the beginning of the transition to the Greek Revival style. Its interior woodwork and open stairway are described as unusually sophisticated for farm houses in the area.
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 76001622, listed April 3, 1976. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | W of Bucktown on Ridge Rd., South Coventry Township, Bucktown |
|---|---|
| County | Chester County |
| Listed | April 3, 1976 |
| Reference number | 76001622 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | c. 1813 |
| Architectural style | Transitional toward Greek Revival; local fieldstone tradition |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Health/Medicine, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Altered: the front entrance was moved to the west facade and a fieldstone sunporch was added to the east elevation, with a side porch on the south elevation later enclosed. |
| Acreage | 0.7 |
| Coordinates | 40.17385, -75.67472 (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 76001622.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q15261092
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.