Slifer House
Also known as: Administration Building-Evangelical Home
Why it's listed
Built in 1861 on a low bluff above the Susquehanna River near Lewisburg, the Eli Slifer House is a two-and-a-half-story brick Victorian country house. It was designed by the Philadelphia architect Samuel Sloan and has a large overhanging hip roof, prominent cross gables with carved molding and pendants, a wide porch with carved columns, and a four-story square tower at the rear. Slifer, a merchant and manufacturer, served in the state legislature and was elected State Treasurer in 1855 and 1859 before becoming Secretary of the Commonwealth under Governor Curtin in 1861. He built the house as the centre of a 280-acre farm and orchard. The house was later sold to the Evangelical Association in 1916, which used it as an old folks home and community hospital. It was listed for its architecture and its association with Slifer's public career, and it is regarded as an imposing example of its type.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is an excellent example of Victorian architecture, designed by Philadelphia architect Samuel Sloan and featured with plans and drawings in an 1862 edition of Godey's Lady's Book. It also associates the house with Eli Slifer, a merchant, manufacturer and state official who served as Secretary of the Commonwealth under Governor Curtin.
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 75001668, listed June 18, 1975. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | N of Lewisburg off U.S. 15 on SR 59024, Lewisburg |
|---|---|
| County | Union County |
| Listed | June 18, 1975 |
| Reference number | 75001668 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1861 |
| Architect / builder | Samuel Sloan (architect) |
| Architectural style | Victorian country house |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Politics/Government, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Owned by Lewisburg United Methodist Homes and in good state of repair; the building is surrounded by modern structures of a geriatric facility. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 40.97601, -76.88282 (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 75001668.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7540448
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.