Derrow, Margaret, House
Why it's listed
A mid-century working-class dwelling in Claysville, Washington County, Pennsylvania, the Derrow house dates from about 1855 and follows the Gothic cottage form. The style was rare in domestic building in the county, where Gothic Revival work was mostly confined to churches and other ecclesiastical structures, so the house stands out among local buildings of its period. Its design draws on the Gothic cottage patterns developed by Alexander Jackson Davis, which applied picturesque theory: an irregular, asymmetrical arrangement of forms and a variety of surface texture. The house is regarded as an important architectural survival in Washington County. Because few Gothic buildings of any kind remain in the county, its good state of preservation gives it value for understanding the area's architectural history. Its modest scale also represents the typical housing of working families at the time.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is one of very few domestic Gothic Revival buildings in Washington County, where the style was largely confined to churches. It follows the Gothic cottage designs of Alexander Jackson Davis, which reflect picturesque ideas of asymmetrical form and varied texture. The nomination states that a well-preserved example is important for the county's architectural continuity.
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 74001808, listed November 5, 1974. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | W. Main St., Claysville |
|---|---|
| County | Washington County |
| Listed | November 5, 1974 |
| Reference number | 74001808 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | c. 1855 |
| Architectural style | Gothic Revival (Gothic cottage) |
| Criteria |
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| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Acreage | 1 |
| Coordinates | 40.11576, -80.41623 (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 74001808.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6759345
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.