Evans, Benjamin, House
Why it's listed
Built about 1855 in the Italian Villa style, this two-story frame house in rural Nescopeck, Luzerne County, combines two offset rectangular blocks topped by a glazed belvedere. Its bold bracketed roof cornice, which projects 28 inches, and three Italianate porches give it a picturesque profile. The house was built for Benjamin Evans, a prominent local citizen who served as justice of the peace and was active in commercial and political affairs, and he lived there until his death in 1902. The nomination regards it as a rare survivor of a style seldom built in Luzerne County, and it stresses the original interior arrangement, in which the belvedere opens onto the stairwell to provide natural ventilation. The house sits in a valley setting that has changed little since the 1850s. Deterioration after 1920 led to the loss of the porches and to asphalt siding, but restoration between 1968 and 1982 returned the exterior to its original design. Its integrity is the basis for its significance.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is an architecturally significant example of the pattern-book Italian Villa style, with complete integrity of its original design and an unspoiled rural setting. It is also tied to Benjamin Evans, a locally prominent citizen in Nescopeck's commercial and political affairs. The house is described as a rare survivor of a style seldom built in Luzerne County.
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 83002260, listed August 25, 1983. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Off PA 93, Nescopeck |
|---|---|
| County | Luzerne County |
| Listed | August 25, 1983 |
| Reference number | 83002260 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | C. 1855 |
| Architectural style | Italian Villa |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Politics/Government, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Restored between 1968 and 1982 using original materials; porches were reproduced from surviving parts. |
| Acreage | 3 |
| Coordinates | 41.04356, -76.22156 (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 83002260.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q4888520
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.