McCoy House
Why it's listed
Built between 1836 and 1843 in the Federal style, this two and a half story brick and frame townhouse in Lewistown has a gable roof, a cornice, and a double chimney linked at its base. Its entrance is reached by straight stairs flanked by iron railings and has a double leaf six-panel door with side lights and a recessed fan transom. The windows are symmetrically arranged, with six-over-six sash and panelled shutters, and the gable holds a semicircular fan window. The house is significant as the birthplace of Frank Ross McCoy, born here on October 29, 1874. McCoy graduated from West Point in 1897, served as an aide to President Theodore Roosevelt, commanded the 69th Infantry Regiment in France during World War I, and later took part in diplomatic missions to Armenia, Nicaragua, Manchuria, and Geneva. He retired from active duty in 1938 and died in 1954.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is significant as the birthplace of Frank Ross McCoy, an Army officer whose career spanned the Spanish-American War, World War I, and postwar diplomatic missions. It also notes the house has been restored to its original appearance after some alteration.
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 73001641, listed March 14, 1973. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 17 N. Main St., Lewistown |
|---|---|
| County | Mifflin County |
| Listed | March 14, 1973 |
| Reference number | 73001641 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1836-1843 |
| Architectural style | Federal |
| Areas of significance | Military, Politics/Government |
| Level of significance | National |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Restored to its original appearance after some alteration |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 40.59817, -77.57497 (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 73001641.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6800644
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.