Byers-Muma House
Why it's listed
Built around 1740 as a one-story stone farmhouse in East Donegal Township, Lancaster County, the dwelling was enlarged about 1798-1815 by Jacob Muma into a two-and-a-half-story house, and a one-room kitchen wing was added on the east gable end around 1805. Its stone walls, arched lintels, quoins and a rounder staircase, together with Georgian-style corner fireplaces and multi-light sash, show a blend of Pennsylvania German and English building traditions. The house is regarded as an excellent example of a vernacular Lancaster County farmhouse that evolved over roughly a century. Its interior retains molded and paneled woodwork, Bible cupboards, original iron hardware, plaster walls and oak floorboards. A spring still runs in the basement. The property was abandoned in the mid-1950s and used as a barn for about fifteen years before rehabilitation in 1970 and again in 1998-1999. Its importance rests on its layered construction and the survival of much of its original fabric.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is an excellent example of a vernacular Lancaster County farmhouse that grew over about a century from a one-story dwelling into a two-and-a-half-story residence with an attached kitchen wing. It is described as one of the oldest buildings in East Donegal Township, retaining features from every stage of its evolution and blending English Georgian and Pennsylvania German traditions.
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 02000070, listed February 22, 2002. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 1402 Trout Run Rd., East Donegal |
|---|---|
| County | Lancaster County |
| Listed | February 22, 2002 |
| Reference number | 02000070 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | C. 1740-c. 1850 |
| Architectural style | Pennsylvania German Colonial; Georgian; Pennsylvania German vernacular |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Rehabilitated in 1970 and again between June 1998 and February 1999; described as in excellent condition and retaining integrity. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 40.08668, -76.55090 (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 02000070.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5004064
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.