Zook House
Also known as: See Also:Zook House (Boundary Increase)
Why it's listed
Built in stages on a farm in Exton, Chester County, the Zook House is a fieldstone farmhouse whose center section dates from 1750. The original two-story section, built of brown fieldstone with a central entrance, was later joined by an east kitchen addition of 1790 and a west end addition of about 1820 to 1830. Morritz Zug, later spelled Zook, acquired the property in 1770, and the Zook family kept it until 1971. In that year a development corporation bought the house and restored it for use as headquarters for the local historical society. The house is regarded as one of the oldest residences in its township. Its sequence of additions is seen as a clear record of how early houses were enlarged as families grew. The restoration reopened a fireplace in the center room and in the kitchen, and the porch was removed and the pent roof rebuilt to follow early markings.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is a typical early 18th century farmhouse and that its center section is one of the earliest extant residences in the township. Its successive additions are presented as evidence of how early houses were extended to accommodate a growing family.
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 76001625, listed January 1, 1976. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Off U.S. 30, Exton |
|---|---|
| County | Chester County |
| Listed | January 1, 1976 |
| Reference number | 76001625 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1750-1830 |
| Architectural style | Colonial; typical early 18th century farmhouse |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Restored and rehabilitated; used as headquarters for the local historical society after purchase by a development corporation. |
| Acreage | 0.6 |
| Coordinates | 40.03034, -75.62515 (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 76001625.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.