Harvey, Nathan, House
Why it's listed
Built circa 1804 by Nathan Harvey, the first settler of Mill Hall, this two-story, seven-bay stone house stands on a rise above Fishing Creek at the Mill Hall gap in the Bald Eagle Ridge. Its random fieldstone walls, rough-cut stone quoins, two-over-two windows and symmetrical Georgian plan follow patterns common to the few surviving stone houses of the Bald Eagle Valley. Harvey built a grist mill across the creek in 1804, and the mill's operation gave the town its name. The house is the only surviving structure tied to Harvey, who also founded a store, sawmill, blacksmith shop and hotel, none of which remain. Later owner John P. Salmon, from 1852 to 1892, is linked to the first anthracite blast iron furnace in Pennsylvania. The house had suffered neglect, and new owners planned its restoration.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is the only remaining structure associated with Nathan Harvey, the first settler and founder of Mill Hall. It is described as the oldest house in the original town plot and as a characteristic Georgian-plan stone dwelling. Later owner John P. Salmon is linked to the early anthracite iron furnace work of Benjamin Perry.
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 85000034, listed January 3, 1985. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 425-427 S. Water St., Mill Hall |
|---|---|
| County | Clinton County |
| Listed | January 3, 1985 |
| Reference number | 85000034 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | circa 1804 |
| Architect / builder | Nathan Harvey (builder) |
| Architectural style | Georgian |
| Areas of significance | Exploration/Settlement |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Deteriorated and altered; rear additions in poor condition are scheduled for removal; under new ownership and planned for restoration. |
| Acreage | 0.2 |
| Coordinates | 41.11014, -77.48472 (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 85000034.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6969116
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.