Johnson-Hatfield Tavern
Why it's listed
Built around 1817 on U.S. Route 40 about half a mile east of Brier Hill in Redstone Township, Fayette County, this five-bay, double-pile stone tavern has a center hall plan, large gable-end chimneys, and a stone spring house of about 12 by 17 feet. Its ashlar front has large quoins at each corner, and the building faces the road as National Road taverns typically did. Stone mason Randolph Dearth is recorded as its builder. Robert Johnson kept the tavern as an innkeeper until 1843 and sold it in 1844 to William Hatfield, a former blacksmith who had made iron gates used on the National Road. Hatfield closed the tavern to the public in 1855. The building is significant for its ties to the early commercial life of the National Road and for its masonry vernacular architecture typical of southwestern Pennsylvania. Later porch and interior changes have been made, but the building keeps its essential tavern form.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the tavern is significant for its association with the early nineteenth-century commercial development of the National Road. It is also significant as vernacular stone architecture representative of southwestern Pennsylvania. Its surviving form, including the second-floor folding doors that enabled a dance floor, keeps it identifiable as a tavern.
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 95001354, listed November 27, 1995. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | US 40, 0.5 mi. E of Brier Hill, Redstone Township, Brier Hill |
|---|---|
| County | Fayette County |
| Listed | November 27, 1995 |
| Reference number | 95001354 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | C. 1817 - C. 1855 |
| Architect / builder | Dearth, Randolph (stone mason) |
| Architectural style | Early nineteenth century vernacular |
| Criteria |
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| Areas of significance | Architecture, Commerce |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 39.97224, -79.82386 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
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 95001354.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6268140
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.