Townsend House
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Why it's listed
Pughtown is the setting for this house of random fieldstone with large corner quoins, two and a half stories high and built in phases. Its original section dates from about 1796 and was constructed by Samuel Townsend, a mason, on land that had belonged to James Pugh, who received the tract in 1713. In the early nineteenth century a two-bay addition was made to the west gable end, and a 1950 addition extended the east end. The house is regarded as a representative example of local architectural tradition, shown by its growth over the centuries to meet the changing needs of its owners. Samuel Townsend served as a Chester County Justice of the Peace from 1801 and was active in the Democratic Party. His son David later became a lawyer, county treasurer and botanist. Beside the house stands an early eighteenth-century springhouse, fed by French Creek, which was built with quoins and later covered in stucco.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is significant for its association with the Townsend family, including Samuel Townsend, a mason and Chester County Justice of the Peace, and his son David, a lawyer, county treasurer and botanist. It also argues the house is a representative example of local architectural tradition, shown by its additive growth over time.
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 74001773, listed December 16, 1974. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | SW of Pughtown off PA 100, Pughtown |
|---|---|
| County | Chester County |
| Listed | December 16, 1974 |
| Reference number | 74001773 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 18th and 19th century |
| Architect / builder | Samuel Townsend (mason, builder of first phase); James Pugh (springhouse) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Original site; altered |
| Acreage | 5 |
| Coordinates | 40.16413, -75.67216 (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 74001773.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7830185
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.