Cook, Col. Edward, House
Why it's listed
Built of coursed limestone quarried on the property, this two-story house in Washington Township, Fayette County, was begun by Colonel Edward Cook in 1772 and completed in 1776, despite frontier hardships and Lord Dunmore's War in 1774. A one-story kitchen stood on the north end by the time of the Direct Tax of 1798. The house measures 36 by 28 feet, with a four-bay east facade, double-hung sash windows, and louvered shutters. It is regarded as one of the earliest stone houses built west of the Alleghenies and one of the most substantial of its time. Cook served as a member of the Provincial Congress in 1776, a member of the state constitutional convention, and commander of a frontier ranger company in 1781. He held county judicial posts from 1786 onward and chaired insurgent meetings during the Whiskey Insurrection of 1794, including at Parkinson's Ferry. He died in the house on November 28, 1808, and the Cook family kept it for more than two centuries.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is one of the earliest stone houses built west of the Alleghenies and remained in the Cook family for more than two centuries. It is also tied to Colonel Edward Cook's prominent role in early western Pennsylvania, including his service in the Provincial Congress, local offices, and leadership in the Whiskey Insurrection of 1794.
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 78003090, listed March 29, 1978. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | E of Belle Vernon, Belle Vernon |
|---|---|
| County | Fayette County |
| Listed | March 29, 1978 |
| Reference number | 78003090 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1772-1776 |
| Architect / builder | Colonel Edward Cook |
| Architectural style | Post-Colonial |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Politics/Government, Architecture |
| Level of significance | National |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Minor renovation in 1952 added a kitchen addition and altered windows; the main house is rented and the former kitchen is occupied by a family member. |
| Acreage | 1 |
| Coordinates | 40.12697, -79.82706 (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 78003090.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5141761
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.