River Bend Farm
Why it's listed
Built of local stone in Coventry Township, Chester County, River Bend Farm is a farmhouse and barn begun by John Hiester shortly after 1765, when his father Daniel took title to the land. The house follows a colonial plan with a full-length central hall, an internal chimney serving fireplaces on both floors, and unusually high ceilings for an early country house. Its stairwell, keystoned openings and 24-lite windows are cited as signs of above-average construction for the area at the time. The farm lies on a bend of the Schuylkill River at a point long used by Native Americans for hunting and as a ford. Hiester was a Revolutionary-era militia officer and state legislator, and several of his family served in county and state office. The nomination places the property's importance in its architecture, its link to the Hiester family, and its archaeological potential. Later additions extend the house to the southwest.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is a well-preserved example of early Chester County farm architecture, with a colonial plan, high ceilings, keystoned openings, internal chimney and pegged rafters. It also gains local significance from its association with the Hiester family, whose members held Revolutionary military, legislative and county offices. The land is noted for prehistoric archaeological importance.
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 80003468, listed August 29, 1980. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | N of Spring City on Sanatoga Rd., Spring City |
|---|---|
| County | Chester County |
| Listed | August 29, 1980 |
| Reference number | 80003468 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | c. 1765-70 |
| Architect / builder | John Hiester |
| Areas of significance | Military, Politics/Government, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The form describes the house as altered with later additions, including a kitchen added about 1959, and states the site is partly original. |
| Acreage | 5 |
| Coordinates | 40.20303, -75.55797 (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 80003468.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7337136
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.