Reyer, Peter and Catherine, Farmhouse
Why it's listed
Built in 1792 as a two-story limestone Germanic bank house in Ephrata Township, north of Ephrata, Lancaster County, the farmhouse was given a datestone reading "P. & C./Reyer/17/92" that records its construction by Peter and Catherine Reyer. Around 1875 it was extensively remodeled into a Pennsylvania style farmhouse with a symmetrical four-bay facade, paired entrances, a lateral gable roof and a four-room plan with a central enclosed stair. The original plan is still legible in the basement, where a masonry partition survives, and in flat stone arches and filled openings on the west and north walls. The house is considered the only documented example in Ephrata Township of this kind of conversion. The surrounding farm was worked until the late 1980s, and the property retains a large open setting despite nearby suburban development.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is significant under Criterion C as the only documented example in Ephrata Township of an 18th-century Germanic farmhouse converted into a Pennsylvania style farmhouse. It is also described as a rare example of its building type and as retaining excellent integrity from its circa 1875 period.
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 96001314, listed November 7, 1996. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Trout Run Rd., W of jct. with PA 272, Ephrata |
|---|---|
| County | Lancaster County |
| Listed | November 7, 1996 |
| Reference number | 96001314 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1792-1875 |
| Architectural style | Germanic bank house; Pennsylvania style farmhouse |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The main farmhouse is in generally fair condition; the circa 1930 frame addition collapsed and was removed. |
| Acreage | 10 |
| Coordinates | 40.19422, -76.17870 (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 96001314.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7177864
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.