New Holland Machine Company
Why it's listed
Built in sections beginning in 1903 on the south side of Franklin Street in New Holland, this brick complex of about 102,700 square feet was the main factory and headquarters of the New Holland Machine Company. Abraham Zimmerman founded the firm in 1895 and incorporated it in 1903 with $50,000 raised from local businessmen and farmers. The original factory and foundry, both of brick, were completed that year. Early output included cob mills and a small internal combustion engine that Zimmerman developed for farms. The company was reorganized in 1940 under new owners, who licensed Edwin B. Nolt's hay baler. Its successful production of that baler, sold in the hundreds by 1941, revived the firm. The complex is significant for its association with the growth of farm equipment manufacturing in Lancaster County.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the complex is significant for its role in the industrial development of New Holland and as the principal manufacturing and headquarters facility of the New Holland Machine Company from 1903 through 1971. It traces the company's early engine and mill production, its 1940 reorganization, and its development into a major farm implement maker, including the hay baler that led to its revival.
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 00000846, listed August 9, 2000. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 146 E. Franklin St., New Holland |
|---|---|
| County | Lancaster County |
| Listed | August 9, 2000 |
| Reference number | 00000846 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1903-1950 |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Industry |
| Level of significance | National |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Building closed as a factory in 1992 according to the narrative; several sections have plywood-covered windows and later additions. |
| Acreage | 1.7 |
| Coordinates | 40.10105, -76.08817 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
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 00000846.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q141824
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.