Zion Lutheran Church and Graveyard
Also known as: Zion Lutheran Church Parish House
Why it's listed
Built of limestone in Hummelstown, Dauphin County, in 1815, this two-and-a-half-story church was the Zion Lutheran congregation's second building, following a log church erected in 1766. Its stone quoins, boxed cornices and dentil-decorated frieze give it a plain early-nineteenth-century character, and a circular six-light window pierces the south gable end. Frederick and Rosina Hummel gave the congregation two lots for a church and graveyard in 1756. In 1804 the congregation obtained a charter of incorporation, allowing it to collect back rents on town lots, and those funds paid for the new building. Services were conducted in German until English was introduced after 1854 under pastor George Haines, when the interior was remodeled. A larger brownstone church was dedicated next door in 1893, after which the stone building served as a parish school and community meeting house until about 1960. The Hummel graveyard surrounds it on the south and west sides.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the building is significant for its architecture, which reflects its early period in simple styling, and for its role in the settlement and development of Hummelstown. It also cites the congregation's long use of the building as a house of worship and community center.
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 79002220, listed March 29, 1979. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Rosanna St., Hummelstown |
|---|---|
| County | Dauphin County |
| Listed | March 29, 1979 |
| Reference number | 79002220 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Areas of significance | Exploration/Settlement, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Leased in 1970 to the Hummelstown Area Historical Society for use as a museum and meeting rooms. |
| Acreage | 1 |
| Coordinates | 40.26627, -76.71039 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
Religious properties are listed for their architectural or historical significance, not their religious use. Listing is honorary and does not restrict the congregation's use of the building. The federal rehabilitation credit is generally unavailable unless part of the building is income-producing; some state programmes and preservation grants do cover religious buildings. Federal funding or permits trigger Section 106 review.
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 79002220.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q8072543
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.