Eberly, Johannes, House
Why it's listed
Built between 1794 and 1798 by master carpenter Martin Rupp, the fieldstone house in Mechanicsburg was constructed for Johannes Eberly, a wealthy Mennonite farmer from Lancaster County. When finished, it was one of the largest and most elaborate stone houses in the Cumberland Valley. Its two-and-a-half stories, four bays and gabled roof with end chimneys give it an asymmetrical facade, unusual for a house of its period. The three-room ground floor follows a Germanic plan with an axial hall, while the woodwork of the mantels, wall molding and stairway shows the shift from late Georgian to early Federal design. The cornice, six-paneled front door, reeded pilasters and relief carving over the door are original. Rupp also built Peace Church in Cumberland County in 1798-99. The house is valued for blending Dutch-German and English building traditions in central Pennsylvania, and it has changed little since it was built.
Significance in brief: The house is significant as an example of the transition from Georgian to Federal architecture and for combining Dutch-German and English building styles in central Pennsylvania. Its asymmetrical facade, floor plan, and interior and exterior woodwork reflect this blend. The nomination notes that the structure has remained remarkably unchanged since construction.
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 73001619, listed April 2, 1973. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | NE of Mechanicsburg on U.S. 11, Mechanicsburg |
|---|---|
| County | Cumberland County |
| Listed | April 2, 1973 |
| Reference number | 73001619 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 18th Century |
| Architect / builder | Martin Rupp (master carpenter) |
| Architectural style | Transition from Germanic Pennsylvania farmhouse to Georgian; Georgian to Federal transition |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The house has remained remarkably unchanged since construction; the original site is retained. |
| Acreage | 0.5 |
| Coordinates | 40.24044, -76.97772 (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 73001619.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q15229638
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.