Hair, Matthew, Farm
Also known as: Shaulis, Clavin, Farm; Fruit Crest
Why it's listed
Located in rural Jenner Township, Somerset County, Pennsylvania, the Hair Farm covers 110 acres of open fields, woodland and a small spring-fed stream. Its central building is a 2½-story brick house dated 1817 by a circular date stone in the east gable bearing the initials M. H., for builder Matthew Hair. The house has a central-passage plan, a shed-roofed front porch, and original four-light transoms and six-over-six sash. Alongside it stand a circa 1870 German-influenced bank barn and a circa 1850 kitchen and spring house, with a windmill-fed cistern on the highest point of the property. The farm is regarded as a clear record of how Somerset County farms evolved from preindustrial subsistence through the nineteenth century. Its brick house is also described as one of only a few early nineteenth-century brick houses still known in the county.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the farm is significant under Criterion A for its association with early nineteenth to early twentieth century agriculture in Somerset County, and under Criterion C as an example of how county farms were designed and changed over time. It states the buildings and lands still evoke the feeling of the early to mid-nineteenth century. The brick house is described as an early Somerset County example of its type, and the farm is described as highly intact.
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 96001207, listed October 24, 1996. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Off PA 601, 1 mi. N of Boswell, Hollsopple |
|---|---|
| County | Somerset County |
| Listed | October 24, 1996 |
| Reference number | 96001207 |
| Resource type | District |
| Period of significance | 1817-1946 |
| Architectural style | Georgian |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Agriculture, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The farm has been in continuous operation and was placed under soil conservation in 1987; the cistern and windmill no longer function. |
| Acreage | 110 |
| Coordinates | 40.18098, -79.00290 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
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 96001207.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q15251798
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.