Dunbar-Creigh House
Also known as: Lawrence Inn
Why it's listed
Built of native Perry County stone between 1794 and 1809 by John Dunbar, this two and one-half story house stands on a hillside lot facing Water Street in Landisburg. It has a gable roof, a stone foundation, and nine-over-nine windows with pegged frames. Interior woodwork includes original six-panel doors, pegged beams, and horsehair plaster walls. In its early years the house held the Recorder of Deeds office while Landisburg was the county seat, which ended in 1827 when the records moved to Bloomfield. Around 1820 it operated as the Lawrence Inn and coach stop, and in 1834 the lawyer John Dunbar Creigh bought it. Creigh was the first lawyer admitted to the Perry County bar. The house is valued for its early stone construction and its connection to the county's early legal and political life.
Significance in brief: The nomination describes it as a fine example of an early stone residence. It is also significant for its use as an inn and coach stop and as the home of John Dunbar Creigh, an early Perry County lawyer. The house also housed the Recorder of Deeds office while Landisburg was the county seat.
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 80003595, listed June 27, 1980. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Water St., Landisburg |
|---|---|
| County | Perry County |
| Listed | June 27, 1980 |
| Reference number | 80003595 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1794-1809 |
| Architect / builder | John Dunbar |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Altered; the form notes asbestos and tin roofing that are not original, and later porches and a terrace. |
| Acreage | 2 |
| Coordinates | 40.34181, -77.30678 (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 80003595.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5314125
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.