Oaklands
Why it's listed
Built in 1772 by George Thomas, a brother of Colonel Richard Thomas, the Oaklands house in West Whiteland Township is a two-story stuccoed stone dwelling with a dated core, a wing to the east with a cat-slide roof, and a secondary wing to the north. Its builder was among the first in Chester County to apply lime to fields as a soil supplement, and the farm was later developed into one of the county's showplaces by his grandson, George Thomas, MD (1808-1887). During the winter of 1777-8 the house was used by the Uwchlan Meeting while its regular house in Lionville served as a hospital for sufferers from nearby Valley Forge. The house is a member of the Thomas Thematic Group and is important for its ties to the family and for its unusual two-tiered porch, which is rare in the eastern and central parts of the county. A 1 1/2 story stone gatehouse, remodelled in 1900 as a private school, stands on the tract.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is significant for its association with the Thomas family, who were prominent in Chester County agriculture, and as an example of colonial building patterns in the township. It also points to a rare two-tiered porch on the nineteenth-century wing. Reviewers asked for more on the house's integrity and its agricultural significance.
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 84003295, listed September 6, 1984. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 349 W. Lincoln Hwy., West Whiteland |
|---|---|
| County | Chester County |
| Listed | September 6, 1984 |
| Reference number | 84003295 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1700-1799 |
| Architect / builder | George Thomas |
| Architectural style | Colonial |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The nominated acreage includes the house and gatehouse; the garage/barn is on a separate parcel under different ownership. |
| Acreage | 1.2 |
| Coordinates | 40.02546, -75.64339 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
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 84003295.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7074075
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.