Connell Mansion
Why it's listed
Built circa 1860 in Ephrata, Lancaster County, this three-story brick house has a low hipped roof topped by a central octagonal cupola. A two-story gable-roofed section and a one-story gable-roofed section extend from the rear of the main block, which measures 39 by 37 feet. The Connell family was a prominent nineteenth-century family in the Ephrata area, with business interests in real estate and livestock. Mrs. Connell was Rebecca Konigmacher, and her family also took part in the development of the Ephrata Cloister, both families having once been householder members there. Architecturally the house stands out in an area of Georgian and rural Germanic building traditions. Its excellent preservation and interesting outbuildings make it a strong example of the Italianate style in rural Pennsylvania.
Significance in brief: The house is considered architecturally unusual in an area dominated by Georgian and rural Germanic building styles. Its excellent preservation and interesting outbuildings make it an example of the Italianate style in rural Pennsylvania. The Connell family was prominent in 19th-century Ephrata, and the Konigmacher family, linked by marriage, took part in the development of the Ephrata Cloister.
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 79002254, listed January 19, 1979. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 249 W. Main St., Ephrata |
|---|---|
| County | Lancaster County |
| Listed | January 19, 1979 |
| Reference number | 79002254 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Moore Connell |
| Architectural style | Italianate |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The form marks the condition as excellent and also marks the property as altered. |
| Acreage | 0.5 |
| Coordinates | 40.18086, -76.18106 (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 79002254.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5161726
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.