Steen, Robert, House
Why it's listed
A Greek Revival building in Coatesville, Chester County, Pennsylvania, the Robert Steen House was listed for its architectural character as a representative example of its type. The surviving text describes a structure that is residential in appearance, though it may have served earlier as a schoolhouse before being converted to domestic use. Because the form as available is largely incomplete, its physical description, construction date, builder and period of significance cannot be fully confirmed from the text. The property's significance rests on the survival of Greek Revival design features in a building of this kind in the Coatesville area, a region where many vernacular buildings of the period have been altered or lost. The nomination treats the house as a link to the early development of the town and to the regional spread of the Greek Revival style in southeastern Pennsylvania.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the building is significant for its architectural importance as a characteristic example of a Greek Revival building type. The text notes the structure appears residential in character and may have been extensively altered, or may have functioned as a schoolhouse before being used as a dwelling.
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 85001155, listed May 20, 1985. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence low).
Key facts
| Address | Fairview Rd., East Fallowfield Township, Coatesville |
|---|---|
| County | Chester County |
| Listed | May 20, 1985 |
| Reference number | 85001155 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| Areas of significance | Social History |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 39.94132, -75.78739 (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 85001155.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7350023
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.