Ogden House
Why it's listed
Built of native stone on high ground in Swarthmore, the Ogden House is a three-story dwelling whose northwest half was finished in 1736, with a southwest addition a few years later. Its double-pitched cedar-shingled roof is carried on two massive stone chimneys, and the walls combine dressed and rubble stone. A carved date on the west chimney fixes the early construction. John Maddock is named as builder. The house passed through the Maddock family and then to the Ogdens, who owned and occupied it from 1804 to 1923. They were substantial landowners and farmers in Springfield Township, and John Ogden was among the directors of Swarthmore College when it was incorporated in 1864. Members of the family also ran a cotton factory, an edged-tool mill and a general store. The house is valued for preserving early eighteenth-century farmhouse form and interior woodwork, including deep windows, original door trim, chair rails and mantels, and for its ties to local families and industry.
Significance in brief: The house is presented as a well-preserved example of the substantial farm dwellings of southeastern Pennsylvania in the first half of the eighteenth century. It is also linked to the Maddock and Ogden families, who were leading landowners, farmers and members of the Springfield Meeting, making the house a focal point for social, economic and religious activity in the area.
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 79002223, listed November 20, 1979. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 530 Cedar Lane, Swarthmore |
|---|---|
| County | Delaware County |
| Listed | November 20, 1979 |
| Reference number | 79002223 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | c. 1736 |
| Architect / builder | John Maddock |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied as a private residence; the document describes the interior as largely retaining its early character with only slight alterations. |
| Acreage | 0.7 |
| Coordinates | 39.91149, -75.35063 (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 79002223.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7079921
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.