Henderson, Dr. William, House
Also known as: Fox House
Why it's listed
Built in 1829 by the builders Dierdorf and Pamler, whose names are carved into the stone lintel above the front door, this three-story brick town house stands on a lot in Hummelstown that was once part of the original town plan. Its common-bond brick walls, Hummelstown brownstone sills and lintels, six-over-six windows and heavy dentilled cornice are characteristic of the Federal style. Inside, original flooring, plaster, fireplaces and a walnut stair survive largely intact. The house was built for Dr. William Henderson, a physician who had set up practice in the town after graduating from the University of Pennsylvania, and it was often called a mansion because of its size. Its restrained, well-kept interior and exterior make it one of the finest examples of brick townhouse design in the town, a style more typical of Philadelphia than of central Pennsylvania.
Significance in brief: The nomination describes it as an excellently preserved example of a Federal-style town house, a style far more common in Philadelphia than in central Pennsylvania. It is regarded as perhaps the finest brick townhouse of its type in Hummelstown, and it is associated with Dr. William Henderson, a local physician who practiced there until his death in 1849.
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 79002218, listed May 14, 1979. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 31 E. Main St., Hummelstown |
|---|---|
| County | Dauphin County |
| Listed | May 14, 1979 |
| Reference number | 79002218 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1829 |
| Architect / builder | Dierdorf and Pamler (builders) |
| Architectural style | Federal |
| Criteria |
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| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Acreage | 0.3 |
| Coordinates | 40.26520, -76.70703 (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 79002218.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5304474
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.