Mitchell-Shook House
Why it's listed
Built of roughly coursed native limestone, the two-story house stands on level ground in the southeast corner of Greencastle, where it was once the main dwelling on a large farm. Its finely hewn front wall has flat arches above the openings, and its massive window frames with ovolo trim reflect 18th-century methods. The interior shows Federal influence in delicate woodwork and extensive reeded trim, especially on the mantelpieces. The house is believed to have been built by James Mitchell about 1800 to 1810, and it remained in the Mitchell family until 1855, when it was sold to Jacob Shook. The Shook family held the property until 1973. The house is regarded as an important example of early stone construction in Franklin County, where few comparable houses survive from this period.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is significant primarily for its architecture, as an excellent example of vernacular stone construction combining pre-1800 massive construction techniques with Federal style details. It is also associated with the Mitchell family, who are said to have held the tract as early as 1737, and its interior woodwork is described as well preserved.
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 80003497, listed September 17, 1980. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Leitersburg St., Greencastle |
|---|---|
| County | Franklin County |
| Listed | September 17, 1980 |
| Reference number | 80003497 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | c. 1810 |
| Architect / builder | James Mitchell (builder) |
| Architectural style | Vernacular with Federal style design motifs |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The document states the house appears to be in good condition and retains a significant amount of original material. |
| Acreage | 2.4 |
| Coordinates | 39.78028, -77.72365 (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 80003497.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6881108
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.