Lord House
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Why it's listed
Built in 1850 by Simeon Lord in Lords Valley, Pike County, the Lord House is a two-and-a-half-story brick building in vernacular Georgian form. Its walls are roughly twelve inches thick and were made from clay dug on the property and baked on site, and its floor joists and sills are oak cut by Simeon Lord at his sawmill. The house sat on the stage coach road and served as a stage stop and hotel, with a bar room, ballroom and garret sleeping quarters for travellers. From 1853 until 1955 it was the only United States Post Office in Lords Valley, and members of the Lord family held township offices including overseer of the poor, assessor, tax collector and supervisor. The family also gave land for the first school in the valley, a free cemetery open to all, and the site of the present volunteer fire department. The house is regarded as the only brick home in Blooming Grove Township built before modern times.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is the only brick home in Blooming Grove Township built before modern times and one of few in Pike County. It served as the only United States Post Office in Lords Valley and as a stage coach stop, and members of the Lord family held local public offices and donated land for a school, a free cemetery and the fire department.
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 80003625, listed June 30, 1980. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | PA 739, Lords Valley |
|---|---|
| County | Pike County |
| Listed | June 30, 1980 |
| Reference number | 80003625 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1850 |
| Architect / builder | Simeon Lord |
| Architectural style | Vernacular Georgian |
| Areas of significance | Exploration/Settlement |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Altered: porch pillars and railings replaced, a dormer added, two of seven fireplaces removed, and the rear barn/carriage house no longer present. |
| Acreage | 1 |
| Coordinates | 41.36774, -75.06323 (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 80003625.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6679388
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.