Middle Pickering Rural Historic District
Also known as: See Also:Stonorov, Oskar G., House
Why it's listed
Rural farmsteads of fieldstone and brownstone, set along quiet roads in the hills of northern Chester County, make up this district of about 1,055 acres. Most of the farm houses are two and a half stories with gable roofs, and the stone barns often date from the early nineteenth century. Land here was first settled by Welsh farmers on tracts of 100 to 150 acres, and later German families joined them. Commercial activity was limited mostly to grist and saw mills, a distillery and a creamery, and at Merlin a mill site later used for a foundry, snuff mill and chair factory. The district is regarded as an unusually complete record of farm life from the eighteenth century through the mid-twentieth century. It also includes a few International Style houses designed by Oskar Stonorov, including his own home, which was built on an older farmhouse foundation. The area is listed for its agriculture, its architecture and its settlement history.
Significance in brief: The district is described as one of very few places in the region almost wholly undisturbed by modern development, able to show two centuries of settlement, farming and architecture. Its farmsteads retain high integrity and follow early tract boundaries, and it includes a small group of International Style houses by architect Oskar Stonorov.
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 91001125, listed September 6, 1991. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Pikeland, Yellow Springs, Merlin, Church and Pickering Rds., Phoenixville, E. Pikeland and W. Pikeland Townships, Phoenixville |
|---|---|
| County | Chester County |
| Listed | September 6, 1991 |
| Reference number | 91001125 |
| Resource type | District |
| Period of significance | 1750-1945 |
| Architect / builder | Oskar Stonorov (architect) |
| Architectural style | Pennsylvania farmhouse; Second Empire; International Style |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Agriculture, Exploration/Settlement, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Agricultural use continues on many properties, with several horse and stock farms. |
| Acreage | 1055 |
| Coordinates | 40.09536, -75.57680 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
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 91001125.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6841526
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.