Findlay Farm
Why it's listed
Along the east bank of the Conococheague Creek, about two miles east of Mercersburg in Peters Township, Franklin County, stands a two-and-a-half-story house of roughly coursed native limestone, built about 1825-1830. Its five-bay symmetrical front has a one-story frame porch spanning the full length of the elevation, and its roof is sheathed in asphalt shingles. A central stair hall divides four rooms on each main floor. The woodwork is consistent throughout, with molded architraves and decorated corner blocks, and the attic and cellar are completely finished. The house is regarded as an excellent example of a rural type of the second quarter of the nineteenth century, and its first-floor parlor mantelpieces show craftsmanship with Greek Revival influence. Local significance also attaches to the property through its early ownership by the Findlay family, including Governor William Findlay of Pennsylvania.
Significance in brief: The house is argued to embody the distinctive features of rural domestic architecture of Franklin County in the second quarter of the nineteenth century, with Greek Revival influenced interior detailing, notably the mantelpieces in the first-floor parlors. The house is said to retain a high degree of interior integrity. The property also has local significance through its association with the Findlay family, including Governor William Findlay.
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 83002245, listed April 21, 1983. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 6801 Findlay Rd., Lamasters |
|---|---|
| County | Franklin County |
| Listed | April 21, 1983 |
| Reference number | 83002245 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival influenced |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The house had undergone little alteration over the years and has been restored; shutters have been rehung on original hinge pins. |
| Acreage | 3.6 |
| Coordinates | 39.83083, -77.86491 (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 83002245.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5449985
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.