Gray-Taylor House
Why it's listed
Built in 1882 for William Henry Gray, this three-story brick house on Walnut Street in Brookville is a French Second Empire residence, notable for its slate-sheathed mansard roof, nine gable dormers and lavishly carved cornice brackets. Brick laid in common bond rises from a limestone foundation, and the front porch, with its fleur-de-lis pendants, is original. Gray, a Civil War veteran of the 105th Pennsylvania Volunteers, was a carpenter, photographer and farmer who later served on the board of the Jefferson County National Bank. He helped establish the Pennsylvania Memorial Home, founded in 1891 for aged veterans. The house is one of only four Second Empire residences left in Brookville and remains largely intact, with its original plate glass windows, parquet floors and walnut open-string staircase. It is valued for its architecture and its link to a family active in the town's commercial and humanitarian life.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is outstanding architecturally for Brookville and is one of only four Second Empire residences remaining in the county seat, surviving largely intact. It is also tied to the Gray family, who were prominent in local commerce, banking, farming and veterans' and humanitarian work.
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 79002244, listed August 3, 1979. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 9 Walnut St., Brookville |
|---|---|
| County | Jefferson County |
| Listed | August 3, 1979 |
| Reference number | 79002244 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architect / builder | William Henry Gray, builder |
| Architectural style | French Second Empire |
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Social History |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied as a private residence; the document states it has been the home of the Taylor family since 1942. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Brookville Historic District |
| Coordinates | 41.16280, -79.08364 (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 79002244.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5598132
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.