New Thomson House
Also known as: Penn-Kane Hotel
Approximate location: the National Park Service places this pin arbitrarily within the property, not at a surveyed point (stated accuracy ±12 m).
Why it's listed
Six-story brick hotel at the corner of Greeves and Fraley Streets in Kane, McKean County, built in 1907 by John Fleming, an Irish immigrant who had run the Fleming Hotel on Fraley Street since 1886. Its roughly 60,000 square feet include 147 rooms, a lobby with mosaic tile and an oak grand staircase, and an atrium lit by buff brick. The ground floor held a lobby, dining room, writing room, billiard room and several sample rooms where traveling salesmen displayed their wares. It drew businessmen, railroad passengers and summer resort guests, who came for Kane's high altitude, low pollen count and mineral springs. The dining room and guests were supplied with West Kane Mineral Water. Between 1907 and 1946 it was often called the Summer Hotel, and it was regarded as one of the most popular hotels in Pennsylvania. Its significance rests on its role in the community's economic and recreational growth and its status as the tallest building in Kane, with a wide view of the surrounding country. Fire destroyed the original roof in 1915, and it was rebuilt to original specifications.
Significance in brief: The hotel is described as one of the most popular hotels in Pennsylvania and served traveling businessmen and resort visitors, contributing to Kane's economic and recreational growth. It is the most prominent and tallest building in Kane, and it is tied to the town's reputation as a healthful resort.
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 84003493, listed May 3, 1984. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 2 Greeves St., Kane |
|---|---|
| County | McKean County |
| Listed | May 3, 1984 |
| Reference number | 84003493 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1907-1965 |
| Architect / builder | John Fleming |
| Areas of significance | Commerce |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The basement houses a laundromat and a barber shop, the first floor is used as furniture showcase space, and the present owners are pursuing restoration. |
| Acreage | 0.4 |
| Coordinates | 41.66055, -78.80935 (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 84003493.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7012099
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.