Mixsell, Jacob, House
Also known as: Northampton County Historical and Genealogical Society
Why it's listed
Built in 1833 on the south-west corner of Fourth and Ferry Streets in downtown Easton, this two-and-a-half-story brick house was constructed by Jacob Mixsell, a contractor-builder who lived there until his death in 1841. Its late Federal design includes a classic entablature over the front entrance, paneled first-floor shutters, louvered second-floor shutters and plain projecting eaves. The interior retains original floors, walls, marble fireplaces and molded trim. A rear kitchen addition followed around 1850. The house matters for its craftsmanship and for the local building family that made it. Mixsell's father laid the masonry of the German Reformed Church in 1775-76. Later, the home passed to Colonel Charles Augustus Wikoff, a career soldier whose funeral was held there after his death at San Juan Hill in 1898. Mary Mixsell willed the house to the county historical society in 1927, and it now serves as a county history museum.
Significance in brief: The house is described as a well-built, stylish example of the Federal style that reflects its period, and Easton has many such early residences. It is considered notable because it was built by its owner, Jacob Mixsell, a contractor-builder, and his family was important in early Easton's construction industry. Its later occupants included a Civil War-era career soldier and a county historical society that now uses it as a museum.
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 80003584, listed February 14, 1980. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 101 S. 4th St., Easton |
|---|---|
| County | Northampton County |
| Listed | February 14, 1980 |
| Reference number | 80003584 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1833-1850 |
| Architect / builder | Jacob Mixsell (builder) |
| Architectural style | Late Federal |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Excellent condition with original floors, walls, marble fireplaces and molded trimmings; now used as the museum of the Northampton County Historical and Genealogical Society. |
| Acreage | 0.1 |
| Coordinates | 40.68059, -75.21001 (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 80003584.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6119016
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.