Sleepy Hollow Hall
Why it's listed
Sleepy Hollow Hall stands on the Lancaster Turnpike in West Whiteland Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania, and is built in stages beginning with a one-room stone dwelling of about 20 by 19 feet from the early 18th century. A stone and log addition followed, and George Massey, a tanner who was born in 1767 and operated a tannery on the property until his death in 1848, expanded the house about 1810 with a five-bay, single-pile main block of two and a half stories. The 1798 Direct Tax lists a currying shop, bark shed and handling shed among the tannery buildings. The house is regarded as significant for two reasons. Its earliest section is the only surviving example of a once common one-room plan, and its main block follows the traditional five-bay, center-hall form used through the late eighteenth century. It is also significant for its link to the introduction of tanning industry into the area. Massey, a Quaker elder, built with restraint, and the house is described as the most architecturally restrained manor house on the route.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house preserves the earliest one-room stone dwelling section, now the only surviving evidence of that once common plan, and that its 1810-1820 main block reflects the conservative, traditional five-bay center-hall plan of the late 18th century. It is also regarded as significant for its association with the introduction of industry, specifically the tanning business, into the Great Valley.
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 84003302, listed August 2, 1984. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 109 E. Lincoln Hwy., West Whiteland |
|---|---|
| County | Chester County |
| Listed | August 2, 1984 |
| Reference number | 84003302 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | c. 1717-1849 |
| Architectural style | Colonial/Federal |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Industry, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Residence and industry historically; present use recorded as house. |
| Acreage | 5.5 |
| Coordinates | 40.02880, -75.62677 (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 84003302.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7539975
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.