Johnston's Tavern
Also known as: New Lodge Inn
Why it's listed
Built in 1831 by Arthur Johnston, this two-story, five-bay fieldstone inn stands in Mercer, Mercer County, along the Pittsburgh-Erie Turnpike. Its four first-floor rooms and four second-floor bedchambers have changed little since completion. The chimneys split near the roofline to form two flues each, and the entrance has a finished fieldstone arch with a sunburst transom. A ten-panel door and Greek Revival molding trim the doorway and all the windows. Johnston named it the New Lodge Inn, and it served as a main stage stop. Its post office, established in December 1836 with the innkeeper as postmaster, operated until 1845. The tavern is valued as an example of Greek Revival architecture in Western Pennsylvania, and as one of the few turnpike taverns offering food, refreshment and lodging. Restoration was funded by a gift from Mr. and Mrs. George M. Henderson and the Cassandra Mellon Henderson Foundation, and the property was later conveyed to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the tavern is an excellent example of the Greek Revival style in Western Pennsylvania, a style it describes as rapidly disappearing in the region. It also states that the inn was one of the few taverns offering food, refreshment and lodging along the turnpike. The inn served a stage stop and a local post office, and it was restored with private funds and later conveyed to the Commonwealth of 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 72001136, listed March 24, 1972. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 6 mi. S of Mercer on U.S. 19, Mercer |
|---|---|
| County | Mercer County |
| Listed | March 24, 1972 |
| Reference number | 72001136 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1831 |
| Architect / builder | Arthur Johnston (builder) |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Transportation, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Restored to its original six-over-six sashes; now held by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania |
| Acreage | 16.3 |
| Coordinates | 41.14968, -80.22264 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
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 72001136.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6268589
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.