Dykeman's Spring
Also known as: Ainsworth Fish Farm; Asper Tract
Why it's listed
Dykeman's Spring is a group of springs near Shippensburg, Cumberland County, with a brick manor house, a stone hatch house and two spring-fed ponds. A brick farmhouse was built on the site by Edward Scull in 1855. George R. Dykeman bought the property in 1870 with Stephenson and converted it into a trout hatchery, enlarging the pond and building the hatch house in 1871. In that year he doubled the farmhouse and remodeled it in the Italianate style, adding a hip roof with a cupola, arched porch, cast iron window hoods and paired brackets. The hatch house later served as a creamery into the 1940s. Dykeman's operations are credited with encouraging dairy farming across the valley. He also helped found the Cumberland Valley State Normal School and engineered the early water system for the town. The property is also significant for two recorded prehistoric sites and its potential for historic archeology.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the property is significant for its role in local agricultural history, as a trout hatchery and later a creamery that helped shift the Cumberland Valley toward dairy farming. It also cites Dykeman's association with the founding of the Cumberland Valley State Normal School, the Italianate remodeling of the manor house, and the potential for archeological information.
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 99000645, listed May 27, 1999. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Dykeman Rd., 0.25 mi E of PA 696, Shippenburg |
|---|---|
| County | Cumberland County |
| Listed | May 27, 1999 |
| Reference number | 99000645 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | c. 1855 - 1948 |
| Architect / builder | George R. Dykeman (architect and builder) |
| Architectural style | Italian Villa (Italianate) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Agriculture, Architecture, Engineering, Prehistoric |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The hatch house was used for continuous creamery operations through 1948; the manor house has been restored and the ponds support a community park. |
| Acreage | 21.2 |
| Coordinates | 40.04140, -77.51543 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
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 99000645.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5318677
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.