Knapp Farm
Why it's listed
A two-and-a-half story stone farmhouse with a stuccoed exterior and a German floor plan stands on a farm in Montgomeryville, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. The eastern section, with its large kitchen fireplace and winding stair, is believed to predate the western section by a few years, with construction placed around 1760 and 1770. The house was probably built by John Roberts, Jr., who held the land from 1756 to 1768. Dr. Samuel Preston Moore and his brothers lived there for more than half a century, and an alleged stay by George Washington in October 1777 is recorded. John Hawley Worrell bought the farm in 1835 for his daughter Mary and her husband Abiriam P. Knapp, and the Knapp family has worked the land since. Original pine floors, hand-hewn joists and plank doors survive throughout. The house is regarded as a rare example of 18th century farm life in a township that has since been heavily developed.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is one of only a few remaining unaltered 18th century farmhouses in Montgomery township and an example of 18th century farm life that has largely disappeared from the area. It states the house retains original interior woodwork, floors and doors, with changes limited to indoor plumbing and electricity. Its association with the Moore and Knapp families and an alleged 1777 stay by George Washington are also cited.
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 76001656, listed October 22, 1976. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | S of Montgomeryville off PA 309, Montgomeryville |
|---|---|
| County | Montgomery County |
| Listed | October 22, 1976 |
| Reference number | 76001656 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1760-1825 |
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Agriculture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Maintained to a late 18th century character; the barn and utility sheds date from 1894. |
| Acreage | 5 |
| Coordinates | 40.23016, -75.24658 (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 76001656.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6421750
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.