Hamilton, Alexander, House
Also known as: Alexander Hamilton Memorial Free Library
Why it's listed
Built in 1814 by a Mr. Bittinger, this two-story brick building in Waynesboro, Pennsylvania, is a five-bay example of the simplified Georgian style common in the Pennsylvania valley. Its front has a central door flanked by two windows on each side, flat brick arches over the openings, and a cornice with dentil work and carved wreaths. A Greek Revival porch with fluted columns was added in 1841, when Alexander Hamilton bought the house. Hamilton, a wagon maker and blacksmith who had moved to Waynesboro from Chester County in 1817, lived here with his family. Their son John, a farmer, painted the family portraits that hang in the library. The house was willed to the borough in 1955 and converted for public library use, which extensively altered the interior and added a two-story brick wing. The building is significant as one of the few surviving early structures in a downtown otherwise built between 1890 and 1920, and for its ties to the borough's founders. A stone spring house also stands on the property.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the building is a typical rural interpretation of the Georgian style common to the Pennsylvania valley and is the only example of an earlier era of economic property in the Waynesboro area, standing among Victorian-era downtown commercial buildings. Its association with Alexander Hamilton and his family, and with the founding period of the borough, is also cited.
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 80003501, listed June 27, 1980. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 45 E. Main St., Waynesboro |
|---|---|
| County | Franklin County |
| Listed | June 27, 1980 |
| Reference number | 80003501 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architect / builder | Mr. Bittinger (builder); Eli Horner (interior woodwork) |
| Architectural style | Georgian (simplified, rural interpretation) |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Altered for library use; original interior largely lost after alterations in the 1950s, and a 1955 addition was built to the east. |
| Acreage | 0.4 |
| Within district | Waynesboro Historic District |
| Coordinates | 39.75518, -77.57619 (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 80003501.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q4719070
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.