Dohner, Michael, Farmhouse
Why it's listed
Built around 1732 by Michael Dohner, this fieldstone farmhouse in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, follows the German continental house tradition. Its original western section has one story under a steep roof, a kitchen spanning the full width of the house, a Stube and a Kammer, and a massive interior fireplace set off-center. Stone segmental and flat arches frame the openings, and a small seelenfenster window survives on the north side. In the late 18th or early 19th century the roof eaves were raised to create a full second story, and a two-bay addition was built on the east end. The house was built by a member of one of the earliest Mennonite families in the area, the Dohners, and remained in that family for 125 years. It is significant as a well-preserved example of how an early Pennsylvania German farmhouse grew to meet the needs of successive generations, and it is a useful comparison with the nearby Hans Herr house, which was never enlarged.
Significance in brief: The original portion is presented as an excellent example of the Continental House, a medieval-derived form brought by German and Swiss settlers in the late 17th and early 18th centuries. The house shows how an early farmhouse was enlarged over the 18th and 19th centuries, and it is compared favorably with the nearby Hans Herr house. It also remained in the Dohner family for 125 years.
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 80003523, listed June 27, 1980. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | E of Lancaster, Lancaster |
|---|---|
| County | Lancaster County |
| Listed | June 27, 1980 |
| Reference number | 80003523 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1700-1799 |
| Architect / builder | Michael Dohner |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Acreage | 0.4 |
| Coordinates | 40.02756, -76.22986 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
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 80003523.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6829894
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.