Finley, James, House
Also known as: Commanding Officer's Residence
Why it's listed
Built about 1778 in Letterkenny Township, south central Pennsylvania, this two-and-one-half story limestone farmhouse was raised on a 200-acre tract by James Finley. The original stone section was three bays wide, with a later two-bay brick addition, pegged timbers shaped by an adze visible in the cellar and attic, and arched openings with keystones above the first-floor windows. Finley, a veteran of the Cumberland County militia, was appointed a Justice of the Peace in 1783. The house stood beside the Forbes Road, a supply route cut in 1758 during the French and Indian War. Following a succession of owners, the United States government acquired the house in 1942 for the use of the commanding officers of the Letterkenny Army Depot. It is valued for its early construction and its illustration of frontier farm life in the region, though it has been altered from its original appearance over time.
Significance in brief: The house is described as one of the oldest surviving dwellings in Franklin County and is associated with the Finley family, who were prominent in local affairs. It is considered a representative example of late eighteenth-century rural vernacular architecture in the region. Its builder, James Finley, served in the Revolutionary War militia and was later a Justice of the Peace.
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 74001783, listed November 19, 1974. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Building No. 505, Letterkenny Army Depot, Chambersburg |
|---|---|
| County | Franklin County |
| Listed | November 19, 1974 |
| Reference number | 74001783 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 18th century |
| Architectural style | Rural vernacular architecture (late eighteenth century) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Politics/Government, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Renovated through the years; described as in excellent condition; used as the residence for the Commanding Officers of Letterkenny Army Depot. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 39.99899, -77.63839 (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 74001783.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6133895
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.