Griffith, William R., House
Also known as: Cathedral House; Cathedral House of St. Stephen`s Episcopal C
Why it's listed
Built of brick in Harrisburg between 1840 and 1843, this three-bay Greek Revival town house stands on a narrow urban lot near the Susquehanna River, in the area known as Old Midtown. It was built for William R. and Eliza Griffith, and an 1843 city directory lists William R. Griffith as living there. The house is attributed to Stephen Hills, a master carpenter who had renovated the Dauphin County Courthouse for state capitol use. Its main entrance has a pilastered doorway, and the interior retains a side hall, reception and living rooms, and a stair with an ornate baluster. The house is also associated with the period after state government moved to the Old Capitol. Its plan follows the urban Georgian layout, and its plain but carefully made woodwork is considered typical of its local setting. A 1950 restoration removed the front veranda and moved the portico to the front facade. The building was a private residence until 1915, later a rectory, and now contains classrooms.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is a fine example of the urban Georgian plan as used in Central Pennsylvania, with simple but well-crafted design that reflects its local setting. It is also tied to the building boom after the state government moved to the Old Capitol. Its interior and entranceway are described as largely original.
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 76001631, listed October 21, 1976. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 215 N. Front St., Harrisburg |
|---|---|
| County | Dauphin County |
| Listed | October 21, 1976 |
| Reference number | 76001631 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1840-1843 |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Used as classrooms; the house was a private residence until 1915, then used as a rectory until 1960. |
| Acreage | 0.3 |
| Within district | Harrisburg Historic District |
| Coordinates | 40.26053, -76.88565 (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 76001631.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q8017212
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.