Ross, Moses, House
Also known as: Site #46-3
Why it's listed
Built around 1850 and set at the base of Doe Run Valley in Londonderry Township, Chester County, this two-story brick house has a full basement and attic under a steep slate gable roof. Its brick walls rise from a stone foundation, laid in stretcher bond on the facade and common bond on the sides and rear. A large two-story portico with a huge pedimented gable dominates the five-bay front, a bold statement for such a rural setting. The centered entrance opens to a hall with an elegant stair. The rear L holds a kitchen with a cooking fireplace and bake oven. Milton Jefferis is linked to its construction, and Moses Ross owned it from 1856 until 1914. The house is regarded as the finest vernacular Greek Revival building in the West Branch Brandywine corridor. It is also notable for its close match to its illustration in Futhey and Cope's 1881 county history, and for its unusually intact condition.
Significance in brief: The nomination describes the house as the finest example of vernacular Greek Revival architecture in the West Branch Brandywine Scenic River Corridor. It is said to be in excellent condition with minimal alteration, and its exterior and interior features are cited as examples of the style. The house is also pictured in Futhey and Cope's 1881 History of Chester County and is described as virtually identical to that illustration.
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 85002375, listed September 16, 1985. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Londonderry Twp., Doe Run Valley |
|---|---|
| County | Chester County |
| Listed | September 16, 1985 |
| Reference number | 85002375 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architect / builder | Milton Jefferis (probable builder, per the form's 'probably built' wording) |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Excellent condition; tenant house for a long period; garage noted as non-contributing. |
| Acreage | 4.5 |
| Coordinates | 39.89585, -75.87226 (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 85002375.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6915928
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.