Townhouse Row
Why it's listed
Seven three-story brick townhouses form a half-block row on the west side of North Main Street in Chambersburg, running from 57 to 85 North Main Street between King Street and the square. The row was rebuilt after Confederate troops burned the central area of the town in July 1864, and most of the construction dates to the period between 1864 and 1875, with later updates in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Each building has commercial space on the ground floor and residences above, a pattern that reflects the lives of families of moderate wealth in the 19th century. The street facades share massive bracketed cornices and painted common bond brick, and several have semi-hexagonal projecting bays added around 1900 to 1915. The entrance at 79-80 North Main Street was renovated early in the 20th century by Dr. H.M. Miley's architect and builder, Maurice Rhoads, and retains much of its original woodwork. The row is considered a unified, largely intact group of post Civil War buildings in the town.
Significance in brief: The row is regarded as relatively little altered post Civil War architecture typical of Chambersburg's downtown. The nomination argues it contributed to commercial development in the late 19th and 20th centuries and reflects late 19th century family life of moderate wealth. The buildings followed the 1864 Confederate burning of the central town and its rebuilding.
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 78002401, listed December 18, 1978. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 57--85 N. Main St., Chambersburg |
|---|---|
| County | Franklin County |
| Listed | December 18, 1978 |
| Reference number | 78002401 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1864-1899 |
| Architect / builder | Maurice Rhoads (architect and builder, for the renovation of 79-80 North Main Street) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Architecture, Social History |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The document states that all seven buildings appear to be in good condition; several street-level storefronts have been altered, and some later additions such as shutters and bays are noted. |
| Acreage | 5 |
| Within district | Chambersburg Historic District |
| Coordinates | 39.93865, -77.66173 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
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 78002401.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7830127
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.