Hopper-Snyder Homestead
Why it's listed
Built of stone in two and one-half stories, the Hopper-Snyder Homestead sits beside Spring Run west of Watsontown in Northumberland County. Its gable roof has plain boxed cornices, and first-story windows have radiating stone arches. Tax records point to construction between about 1790 and 1805, and a wooden addition was made at the northeast corner around the Civil War period. Inside, a central foyer runs the full width of the house and has a reeded archway with a keystone. The front living room has reeded chair rail and a matching fireplace, and a built-in cupboard with an original raised-panel door survives behind a later fireplace covering. The property is noted for its size compared with other stone houses nearby and for its original interior trim. Its ownership chain runs from a 1769 military land grant through George Hopper in 1791 to John Snyder, a possible gunsmith whose signed firearms are collected today.
Significance in brief: The nomination notes the house is larger than two other stone houses within fifteen miles and retains many original interior features, including a foyer archway with reeding and a keystone, and original baseboards. It is linked to the early ownership chain of the tract and to a possible local gunsmith, John Snyder, whose signed guns are noted for their craftsmanship. The significance statement section offers a conditional argument rather than a firm one.
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 79002315, listed July 3, 1979. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | NE of Watsontown off SR 49061, Watsontown |
|---|---|
| County | Northumberland County |
| Listed | July 3, 1979 |
| Reference number | 79002315 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | c. 1800 |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The interior is described as in good condition; shutters are being repaired; a barn associated with the house was destroyed by a tornado circa 1960. |
| Acreage | 1 |
| Coordinates | 41.09427, -76.85559 (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 79002315.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5901195
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.