Chestnut Street Log House
Why it's listed
Built as a one and one-half story central fireplace log house on a limestone foundation in Lebanon, Pennsylvania, the Chestnut Street Log House sits in the first lots laid out by George Steitz, who received warrants for land in 1737 and 1741 and began selling village lots about 1750. Lots were required to carry a house within 18 months and to include a stone or brick chimney. The house has a three-bay plan with a three-room first floor typical of Pennsylvania German design, including a kitchen with a central fireplace and a stube with Georgian-style trim and a German jamb stove. Its logs were concealed beneath wide clapboard until 1975, when examination revealed the early structure. The house is regarded as the only known survivor of the circa 1772 village and an example of early folk architecture. Restoration to its late 1700s appearance is underway.
Significance in brief: The house is presented as a rare surviving example of early Pennsylvania German log house architecture, and as the only known house remaining from the circa 1772 period of the village's early development. Its log construction was hidden under clapboard until 1975, when examination revealed its early form. Restoration is underway to its late 1700s appearance.
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 78002424, listed November 20, 1978. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 1110 Chestnut St., Lebanon |
|---|---|
| County | Lebanon County |
| Listed | November 20, 1978 |
| Reference number | 78002424 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1700-1799 |
| Architectural style | Pennsylvania German log house |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Exploration/Settlement, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Being restored to its late 1700s appearance |
| Acreage | 0.1 |
| Coordinates | 40.33753, -76.42913 (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 78002424.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5094001
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.