Keystone Hotel
Why it's listed
Built in 1839 by G. and E. Fox on the corner of Main and Water Streets in Hummelstown, the Keystone Hotel is a brick building of Flemish bond laid on a limestone foundation, with a gable roof and twin chimneys. Its builders replaced an earlier inn that burned that year. An 1850 expansion more than doubled its size, raising the front roofline and adding a three-bay addition on the east. Behind it stands a brownstone outbuilding with a fireplace and a large bake oven, and a small brick ice house. The main staircase and several doors and fireplaces survive from the 1839 period. The hotel served travelers on the Reading to Harrisburg Turnpike and the Union Canal, housed quarry workers, and hosted livestock sales. Its early telephone and radio made it a focal point for townspeople during public events.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the hotel was one of the town's principal inns for more than a century, serving travelers on the Reading to Harrisburg Turnpike and the Union Canal traffic, as well as quarry workers. It also describes the hotel as a community gathering place, with livestock sales, an early telephone and an early radio, and says it is one of only two remaining early 19th-century hotels in the town.
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 85001002, listed May 9, 1985. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 40 E. Main St., Hummelstown |
|---|---|
| County | Dauphin County |
| Listed | May 9, 1985 |
| Reference number | 85001002 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1839-1850 |
| Architect / builder | G. Fox (builder) |
| Architectural style | Federal (vernacular) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Transportation, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Deteriorated, altered; the form also records original site, and the 1850 expansion and later dining room are noted. |
| Acreage | 1 |
| Coordinates | 40.26603, -76.70540 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
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 85001002.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6398470
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.