Thompson, S. R., House
Why it's listed
Three stories tall and set on raised ground across from the Westminster College quadrangle in New Wilmington, Pennsylvania, this Queen Anne house was built about 1884 for Samuel R. Thompson, who returned to his alma mater that year as professor of physics. Its asymmetrical massing, steep hip roof with projecting gables, slate shingles, and five bands of differing siding are typical of the style, and its decorative woodwork includes sunburst bargeboards, bracketed eaves, and turned and sawn porch detailing. Photogravures from 1894 and a postcard from about 1905 show little change to the exterior since then. Its interior retains original trim, mouldings, and a staircase in the entrance hall and front room. The house is regarded as a fine and rare example of the style in western Pennsylvania, standing apart from the simpler Greek Revival and Gothic Revival houses nearby. Thompson, who funded Mary Thompson Science Hall in 1893, is also linked to the house. Westminster College later owned it.
Significance in brief: The nomination describes the house as a fine and rare example of Queen Anne architecture as it developed in western Pennsylvania by the 1880s, with elaborate wooden decoration largely intact. It also argues the house is associated with Samuel R. Thompson, a professor of physics and science department leader at Westminster College, and that its interior and exterior remain largely unchanged since the Victorian 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 85000467, listed March 7, 1985. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Market St., New Wilmington |
|---|---|
| County | Lawrence County |
| Listed | March 7, 1985 |
| Reference number | 85000467 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1884 |
| Architectural style | Queen Anne |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Education, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Used as a women's residence by Westminster College. |
| Acreage | 0.4 |
| Coordinates | 41.11862, -80.33334 (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 85000467.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7387276
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.