Smalley, Lewis, Homestead
Also known as: Lewisburg--Sycamores
Why it's listed
Built of native stone in the Great Loop area of Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania, the two and one half story Lewis Smalley house is among the oldest in the county, with a date of around 1794 given for its construction. It is three bays wide, has a gable tin roof, and retains its original interior features, including stone arched corner fireplaces that still function, handhewn beams, solid plank doors with original hardware, and hemlock floors. Beside it stands a stone bank barn measuring forty-five by ninety feet, with stables for fifty head of livestock and a threshing floor grainery. Its handhewn, mortised and pegged framing and limestone sills are notable, as are carved inscriptions left by earlier owners and by Union troops quartered there during the Civil War. Smalley had served in the Cumberland Militia during the Revolutionary War and acquired the property in 1797. The site lay on an important cross-state transportation route, which is why Union cavalry were stationed there to guard the railroad against Confederate raiders.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the property is a well preserved and little altered example of early architecture in the Great Loop area, with unusual corner fireplaces and a fine stone barn. It also cites Civil War inscriptions carved in the barn by Union cavalry stationed there to guard the Pennsylvania Railroad, and Smalley's Revolutionary War military service.
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 78003088, listed November 14, 1978. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | E of Allenport on PA 103, Allenport |
|---|---|
| County | Huntingdon County |
| Listed | November 14, 1978 |
| Reference number | 78003088 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1700-1799 |
| Architect / builder | Lewis Smalley |
| Areas of significance | Exploration/Settlement, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The interior is described as being in excellent condition, with the house in good condition overall. |
| Acreage | 30.1 |
| Coordinates | 40.36001, -77.83126 (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 78003088.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6537054
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.