Malden Inn
Why it's listed
Located 2.6 miles west of West Brownsville, Pennsylvania, on what was originally the National Pike, the Malden Inn is a six-bay, two-and-a-half-story stone building in a post-colonial Western Pennsylvania vernacular style based on Georgian design. Its west portion dates to 1822 and its east portion to 1830. Squared masonry blocks form the quoins and front facade, while the side elevations are random fieldstone and rubble, and a cyma-profiled stone cornice runs across the front. A stone wing was added to the rear sometime after 1830. The front of the newer east section carries a carved stone tavern sign showing a spread eagle, a moldboard plow, and the inscription "Kreppsville, 1830." The inn is considered one of the two surviving early stone taverns in Washington County. Built along a road that was basically completed in 1818 and opened officially in 1835, it reflects the prosperity the National Pike brought to the area and its importance as a stop for travelers and stagecoaches.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the inn is one of two remaining early stone taverns in Washington County and one of the most important architectural remains in the county. It is associated with the National Pike, and its tavern sign carrying the inscription "Kreppsville, 1830" is described as a distinctive piece of stonework on the road.
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 74001805, listed January 24, 1974. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | W of Blainsburg on U.S. 40, Blainsburg |
|---|---|
| County | Washington County |
| Listed | January 24, 1974 |
| Reference number | 74001805 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1820-1830 |
| Architect / builder | Krepps (builder, named in the statement of significance without a full first name) |
| Architectural style | Post Colonial Western Pennsylvania vernacular style, based on the Georgian Style |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The old inn is now used for storage; a large stone barn to the rear is used as a bar-restaurant. |
| Acreage | 1 |
| Coordinates | 40.03769, -79.93033 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
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 74001805.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6742781
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.