Petersburg Tollhouse
Why it's listed
Built around 1835 as one of six toll houses along Pennsylvania's section of the National Road, this square stone structure has a hipped roof, a seven-sided two-story tower on its southeast corner, and a brick chimney at its northern end. The toll window and main door are set in the tower. A small wooden kitchen was added to the west around 1888, and a porch supported by square posts shades the tower's first story. The interior holds a sitting room with a fireplace, a kitchen, a parlor with a fireplace, and a second-story bedroom. The road was authorized by the federal government in 1806 and was later handed to Pennsylvania to administer. Tolls were collected here until 1905. The house is regarded as the first toll house in Pennsylvania on the road from Cumberland and the only surviving stone toll house of its design on the Pike, which gives it its importance to the road's history.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues that it is the first toll house within Pennsylvania on the road from Cumberland and the only extant stone toll house of its design on the Pike. Its design and relation to the National Road's history, including toll collection until 1905, are the basis for its significance.
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 79002346, listed March 20, 1979. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Off U.S. 40, Addison |
|---|---|
| County | Somerset County |
| Listed | March 20, 1979 |
| Reference number | 79002346 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Areas of significance | Transportation, Architecture |
| Level of significance | National |
| Acreage | 0.1 |
| Coordinates | 39.74642, -79.33471 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
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 79002346.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7178192
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.