Simon, Herman, House
Why it's listed
Built in 1902 on North Third Street in Easton, this French Chateau style house of Indiana limestone on a granite base was designed by William Morris Michler for Herman Simon, a German-born silk manufacturer whose mills in Union Hill, New Jersey, and Easton were among the largest of their kind. The interior holds the features that set it apart: a carved oak staircase, a library with a Spanish leather ceiling and a Caen stone fireplace, a dining room with a wild boar hunt painted on canvas, and Delft tiles in the kitchen. Stained glass by Nicola D'Ascenzo appears in the house, and the woodwork is hand carved in cherry, oak, and mahogany. Simon's home is regarded as one of the finest mansion houses in the city and an excellent example of its style. The YWCA acquired the residence in 1930 and later added rear additions in 1955 and 1971.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is one of the finest mansion houses in Easton and an excellent example of the French Chateau style. It is also tied to Herman Simon, whose silk mills were regarded as leading industrial establishments of their time. The interior, with its hand-carved woodwork, stained glass, and imported materials, is cited as a notable feature.
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 80003586, listed June 27, 1980. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 41 N. 3rd St., Easton |
|---|---|
| County | Northampton County |
| Listed | June 27, 1980 |
| Reference number | 80003586 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1900- |
| Architect / builder | William M. Michler (architect) |
| Architectural style | French Chateau |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Industry, Art, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Used by the YWCA, with offices and meeting rooms on lower floors and residents on upper floors |
| Acreage | 0.5 |
| Coordinates | 40.65663, -75.20899 (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 80003586.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q15223714
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.