White Horse Historic District
Also known as: White Horse Village
Why it's listed
Clustered around the crossroads of Goshen and Providence Roads in Willistown Township, White Horse is a village of primarily masonry houses, a former store, a tavern and a blacksmith shop, most dating from 1798 to about 1850. The Joseph Vogdes house and store, built in 1798, is the oldest building. The village grew from a crossroads after the roads were laid out in the late 1600s and early 1700s, and by 1824 it had a tavern, general store, smithy and several craft shops. Its Pennsylvania Colonial and Federal vernacular buildings, many of stone or stucco painted white, were set close to Goshen Road in a linear pattern. In the 1930s and around 1950, restorations by R. Brognard Okie and his son Charles added Colonial Revival touches while keeping the village's historic appearance. The district is significant for preserving a village of this early period in Chester County.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the district's buildings, largely late eighteenth and early nineteenth century vernacular architecture, show the settlement and development of the village from 1798 to about 1950. Its architecture and setting are significant under Criterion C, and the district is described as an intact, well-preserved village with restorations by R. Brognard Okie and Charles Okie that kept its historic appearance.
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 01000058, listed February 2, 2001. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Jct. of Goshen and Providence Rds., Willistown Township |
|---|---|
| County | Chester County |
| Listed | February 2, 2001 |
| Reference number | 01000058 |
| Resource type | District |
| Period of significance | 1798-c. 1950 |
| Architect / builder | Okie, Richard Brognard; Okie, Charles |
| Architectural style | Federal; Greek Revival; Colonial Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Conservation |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Resources are in fine condition; several are protected by conservation easements; some buildings now serve as offices and studio space. |
| Acreage | 35 |
| Coordinates | 39.99072, -75.46888 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
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 01000058.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7994820
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.