Shoemaker, Capt. Jacob, House
Why it's listed
Built around 1810 as a 1½ story split fieldstone house over a stone basement, the Captain Shoemaker House stands near Bushkill in Monroe County, Pennsylvania. Captain Jacob Shoemaker, an early settler of the Upper Delaware Valley who had served in the local militia during the Revolution, received a grant of 1100 acres shortly after the war and built the homestead at the start of the 19th century. The Shoemaker family played a major part in the valley's development on both sides of the river, including in Walpack and Pahaquarry Townships in New Jersey. The house is valued for its preservation and interior detail. Original beaded wainscot, chair rails, and 6-panel doors survive, along with random-width floorboards and a 10-foot kitchen fireplace with oven. Its condition is regarded as a valuable record of regional stone architecture, although 20th century dormers and nearby motel buildings affect its setting.
Significance in brief: The house is associated with the Shoemaker family, prominent settlers on both sides of the Delaware River from about the Revolution to the mid-to-late 19th century. It is described as perhaps the largest and best preserved of the 18th and early 19th century stone houses on the Pennsylvania side of the river, and it is in exemplary condition with many original interior details.
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 79000247, listed July 17, 1979. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Off LR 45012, Bushkill |
|---|---|
| County | Monroe County |
| Listed | July 17, 1979 |
| Reference number | 79000247 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Altered by 20th century dormers and intrusions from nearby motel buildings; porch in generally poor condition; original exterior doors missing. |
| Acreage | 1.8 |
| Coordinates | 41.08085, -75.03152 (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 79000247.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5036431
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.