Swatara Ferry House
Why it's listed
Built of log in one-and-one-half stories over a full stone cellar, this house in Middletown, Dauphin County, was constructed in two sections, each with its own entrance and chimney. The two halves were apparently mirror images of one another, and each followed a German-influenced floor plan, though the first floor has been greatly altered. The upper floor retains a large hall and two rooms. The walls are clad in wide clapboards on three sides, while the porch side has beaded boards. Machine-cut nails throughout the structure suggest construction after 1800. Early deeds for neighboring Portsmouth lots reserved the right to operate a ferry across Swatara Creek to lot 62, suggesting the building existed by about 1812. Its significance rests on its rarity: the house is regarded as the only known surviving example of its type in Dauphin County and one of very few in the state. Local legend calls it an old fort, but the building was a residence and is not as old as that tradition claims.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is the sole known survivor in Dauphin County of a type of one-and-one-half story log house that was among the most common styles at the time of the 1798 Direct Tax, and that few examples of this type have survived in the state. It is also associated with the early ferry operation across Swatara Creek and with the 1808-1809 subdivision and sale of the Portsmouth property.
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 76001635, listed September 27, 1976. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 400 Swatara St., Middletown |
|---|---|
| County | Dauphin County |
| Listed | September 27, 1976 |
| Reference number | 76001635 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architectural style | Vernacular type of 1 1/2 story log house |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Altered; the front porch side is clad in flush beaded boards and the first floor has been greatly altered. |
| Acreage | 0.5 |
| Coordinates | 40.19149, -76.73220 (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 76001635.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7654007
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.