Melrose
Also known as: President's House; Cheyney State University
Why it's listed
Melrose is a stone farmhouse at Cheyney, Pennsylvania, built in three sections: a central two-bay section of irregularly coursed fieldstone probably standing before 1785, an eastern three-bay granite ashlar section added in 1807, and a western two-bay addition of c. 1850. The house occupies a knoll above the East Branch of Chester Creek and anchors the southern edge of what is now Cheyney State University's quadrangle. It was the home of Mary H. Cheyney, a physician who practiced in West Chester in the later nineteenth century, and from 1903 to 1968 it housed the presidents of the Institute for Colored Youth, later Cheyney State University. Its greatest associations are with Dr. Leslie Pinckney Hill, president from 1913 to 1951, whose reforms turned a small training institute into a respected liberal arts college. Hill wrote, received visitors and prepared his speeches and correspondence in the second-floor study, and the house is regarded as the base of his national work in education and race relations. The building has been vacant since it was used as the infirmary.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is significant for its association with Mary H. Cheyney, a pioneering local woman doctor, and for its association with Dr. Leslie Pinckney Hill, who led the Institute for Colored Youth (later Cheyney State University) from 1913 to 1951 and was a national leader in education, race relations, and social reform. Hill's work from the house, including his speeches, writings and correspondence, is presented as central to the house's importance.
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 86001780, listed September 4, 1986. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Hill Dr., Cheyney |
|---|---|
| County | Delaware County |
| Listed | September 4, 1986 |
| Reference number | 86001780 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | c.1785-1951 |
| Architectural style | Stone vernacular farmhouse |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Black, Education, Social History |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Currently vacant |
| Acreage | 0.4 |
| Coordinates | 39.93142, -75.52764 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
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 86001780.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6813633
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.