Skinner Tavern
Also known as: Skinner's Inn; Halfway Hotel; Western Inn; Geyer Hotel
Why it's listed
Built in stone from about 1788 in Horse Valley, Letterkenny Township, the Skinner Tavern stands beside the Three Mountain Road, a route heavily used by drovers moving livestock to Philadelphia. A brick addition was built onto its north side between 1837 and 1850, reflecting the growth in travel along the road. Over its working life the building served as a tavern, an inn, a general store and a post office, the Stenger Post Office operating there from 1888 to 1909. The stone section is described as one of the earliest stone buildings in Franklin County, and it retains original woodwork, chair rails, beaded board ceilings and some early fireplaces. The nomination compares it with other 18th-century stone taverns in the region, noting that its compact plan and mixed commercial functions set it apart. It ceased operating as a business in 1909 and afterward served as a private residence.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the building is significant for its association with commerce along the Three Mountain Road, a major drovers' route, where it operated as a tavern, inn, general store and post office. Its stone section is described as one of the earliest stone buildings in Franklin County, and it is presented as a good example of a late 18th-century Georgian stone tavern with a mid-19th-century brick addition.
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 05000757, listed July 27, 2005. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 13361 Upper Strasburg Rd., Letterkenny Township |
|---|---|
| County | Franklin County |
| Listed | July 27, 2005 |
| Reference number | 05000757 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1788-1909 |
| Architectural style | Colonial/Georgian; Mid 19th Century |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Commerce |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Ceased use as a business in 1909 and was then used as a private residence. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 40.06889, -77.76431 (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 05000757.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7535522
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.