Wormley, John, House
Why it's listed
Built around 1815 on the western bank of the Susquehanna River, the John Wormley House is a two and one-half story gable-roofed house of local uncoursed limestone, three bays wide and two bays deep, with a two-story frame addition at the rear. It was built for John Wormley, Jr., whose family had acquired large tracts on the western shore, and it stands near the ferry crossing he operated. Wormley also laid out the town of Wormleysburg in 1815 with 91 building lots carved from family land. The house is regarded as a representative example of its regional stone construction, with large quoins at the corners, fluted pilasters, and a cornice with slight returns on the gable ends. Its window heads retain Greek Revival moulding and bullseye details. The interior has been altered, with replaced floors and removed doorways, but the basic plan of a central hall with two rooms on each floor survives.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is significant in architecture as a representative example of the half-Georgian style of house, retaining most of its original exterior details and character. It is also significant for settlement, tied to the Wormley family's ferry, land holdings and the laying out of the town of Wormleysburg.
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 76001630, listed November 21, 1976. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 126 N. Front St., Wormleysburg |
|---|---|
| County | Cumberland County |
| Listed | November 21, 1976 |
| Reference number | 76001630 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | c.1772-1815 |
| Architectural style | Federal |
| Areas of significance | Exploration/Settlement, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Acreage | 0.7 |
| Coordinates | 40.25650, -76.90047 (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 76001630.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q15229690
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.