Oyer, Christian, Jr., House
Also known as: Harmon House
Why it's listed
A two-story Federal style house of fieldstone walls covered in scored stucco, built about 1830 on a farm in north-central Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania. Its rectangular plan has a central hall, four rooms on each floor, and identical front and rear elevations, a feature the nomination calls rare in the area. Its significance lies chiefly in its decorative painting: simulated mahogany, bird's-eye maple, figured maple and marble on doors, baseboards and cupboards, along with stenciling in the rear parlor. Much of this original paint survives. The nomination describes the building as unusually intact, having changed little because it was neglected for much of the twentieth century. The builder and the decorative painter are unidentified. The house is compared with the nearby Curtin Mansion and Hugh Seeds House, and is regarded as more refined in its detailing than either.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is a well-preserved, nearly intact example of early 19th century Federal domestic architecture in the area. Its main distinction is its original interior and exterior decorative painting, including simulated wood graining, marbleizing and stenciling, which is described as unusual for the region. Its high level of integrity, with few architectural changes since construction, 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 95000882, listed July 21, 1995. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Township Rd. 513, Barree Township, Huntingdon |
|---|---|
| County | Huntingdon County |
| Listed | July 21, 1995 |
| Reference number | 95000882 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | C. 1830 |
| Architectural style | Early Republican/Federal |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Restored and rehabilitated between about 1990 and 1994, with mechanical systems installed in 1990 and a non-contributing shed built in 1993. |
| Acreage | 1.8 |
| Coordinates | 40.60969, -77.89794 (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 95000882.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5110002
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.