Old Homestead
Also known as: Pine Grove Farm; Honey Creek Farm
Why it's listed
Built in 1824-25 by Enoch Marvin, an agent of the Pennsylvania Population Company, this two-and-a-half-story brick farmhouse stands near Enon Valley in Lawrence County. Its front and rear walls step up into four extended brick chimneys, a form not common in western Pennsylvania at the time. The interior has fine woodwork, a hanging dog-leg staircase with cherry spindles and handrails, and Federal-style mantels in several rooms. Marvin, who had come from Philadelphia, built it as a model of refined living on the frontier and as an example for buyers of the company's land. The house is regarded as an unusually sophisticated product of the early settlement period, and it is linked to the company's promotion of settlement in the area. Enon Valley itself was laid out by Marvin on his land in 1838.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is an unusually sophisticated frontier dwelling, with stepped front and rear walls and fine interior woodwork and Federal-style mantels that are rare for the area at that date. It also ties the house to Marvin's role as land agent for the Pennsylvania Population Company in developing northwestern Pennsylvania.
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 80003542, listed August 22, 1980. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | NW of Enon Valley off PA 351, Enon Valley |
|---|---|
| County | Lawrence County |
| Listed | August 22, 1980 |
| Reference number | 80003542 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1823-51 |
| Architect / builder | Enoch Marvin |
| Architectural style | Federal style (interior mantels); stepped gable front and rear walls |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition marked excellent, with the original site retained but the building altered by an 1930 utility room and sun porch addition. |
| Acreage | 3.7 |
| Coordinates | 40.87458, -80.47121 (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 80003542.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7084237
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.