Walter, Henry, House
Why it's listed
Built of local brown and reddish-brown sandstone in West Cocalico Township, this two-story house was probably erected for Henry Walter between about 1750 and his death in 1768. Its front entry, called a vorstube, holds a panelled enclosure around the staircases, and the stube, kammer and kitchen follow a four-room plan that is rare in Pennsylvania German houses of this date. The original woodwork retains paint in dark blue, gold and red, and the cellar is vaulted. Walter also ran a gun manufactory, boring mill and saw mill on the property, and the inventory of his 1769 estate lists gun-making tools, carpenter's tools and a surveyor's compass. The interior is considered unusually well preserved for its period. Its exterior changes include lost window sash and a later porch.
Significance in brief: The house is regarded as a major example of eighteenth-century Germanic architecture in Pennsylvania, distinguished by its formal four-room plan with a vorstube entry and elaborately panelled enclosed staircase. Its interior woodwork is described as unusually intact for the region. The nomination also links the site to Walter's gun manufactory, boring mill, saw mill and joiner's workshop, which tie it to pre-Revolutionary industrial history.
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 84003449, listed July 26, 1984. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Greenville Rd., Blainsport |
|---|---|
| County | Lancaster County |
| Listed | July 26, 1984 |
| Reference number | 84003449 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | c. 1750-1768 |
| Architect / builder | Henry Walter (?) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Industry, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Restored or being restored; summer kitchen and bake oven are recent and non-contributing |
| Acreage | 8 |
| Coordinates | 40.27060, -76.15427 (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 84003449.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5729806
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.