Peters, William, House
Why it's listed
Built in 1749-50 in Chelsea, Aston Township, for William and Eleanor Peters, this brick house is regarded as an outstanding example of Georgian architecture in the middle colonies. Its original plan had four rooms around a center hall on each floor, and its front and western walls are laid in Flemish bond while the rear and eastern walls use common bond. William Peters was a prosperous local resident who operated gristmills and sawmills on Green Creek and later served in the Pennsylvania General Assembly. The house was moved to its present site in 1965, when a rear wing for a modern kitchen and laundry was added and the interior was adapted. The nomination credits the careful documentation of every alteration and the efforts to preserve its architectural detail with keeping the house important despite the move. Without relocation, it would have been destroyed entirely.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is an outstanding example of Georgian architecture in the middle colonies, with a original four-room plan around a center hall on both floors and Flemish and common bond brickwork. It states that despite being moved, the care taken with documentation and preservation of its architectural detail keeps it important. William Peters was a prosperous local resident with gristmills and sawmills on Green Creek who served in the Pennsylvania General Assembly.
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 71000696, listed May 27, 1971. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Hillendale Rd., Pennsbury Township, Mendenhall |
|---|---|
| County | Chester County |
| Listed | May 27, 1971 |
| Reference number | 71000696 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1749-50 |
| Architectural style | Georgian |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Moved to its present site in 1965 and altered for modern living, including a rear kitchen and laundry wing. |
| Acreage | 2.2 |
| Coordinates | 39.86410, -75.62644 (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 71000696.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q8016822
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.