Knurr Log House
Why it's listed
Built as a Germanic log house in the mid-18th century, the Knurr Log House is a one and one-half story gabled structure with a three-room ground floor: a central fireplace in the kitchen, a long narrow sleeping room, and a larger sitting room that once held a stove. A panelled staircase with a beaded door leads to the upper living quarters, where the plank-panelled rooms remain largely intact. The house has never had running water; its water has come from a well in the front yard. Exterior changes include added windows, a reconstructed gable end, shingling, a tin roof over the original hand-split oak shingles, and a brick chimney. It stands among outbuildings including a mid-19th century Pennsylvania bank barn and a traditional German kitchen garden of four raised beds. The farm, worked by the Knurr family for more than 150 years on poor soil, is regarded as a well-preserved example of early settler life in the region and retains the appearance of a 19th century farm.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is an excellent example of a Germanic log house, retaining basic features such as the central chimney, three-room plan, steep gable roof and low doors. It also argues the farm, worked by the Knurr family for over 150 years with largely unmechanized methods, typifies a folk way of life worth preserving.
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 74001795, listed November 5, 1974. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Meng Rd., Delphi |
|---|---|
| County | Montgomery County |
| Listed | November 5, 1974 |
| Reference number | 74001795 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | c. 1750 |
| Architectural style | Germanic log structure |
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Agriculture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Fair condition, altered on the exterior with added windows, a reconstructed gable end, shingling and a tin roof over the original shingles; interior panelled stairway and upstairs rooms remain intact. |
| Acreage | 50 |
| Coordinates | 40.26749, -75.47739 (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 74001795.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6423839
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.