Roberts House
Why it's listed
Built in three parts, with the oldest section being the kitchen wing at the back, this two-story stone house in Canonsburg has five bays and eight-over-eight windows with shutters. Its Georgian entrance has a recessed door and a semi-circular fanlight. A classical cornice with metopes, triglyphs and dentils runs the full length of the gable end, which is unusual for a late Georgian house in Western Pennsylvania. The coursed stonework imitates Flemish bond brickwork through alternating headers and stretchers, also uncommon for the region. Some original mantels survive in the interior. Roberts once operated a post office from the house. The property is significant as a fine example of what is termed the Post Colonial style, in which local builders selectively combined Georgian, Roman Classical, Adamesque and other Renaissance forms. The nomination regards it as one of the most important architectural works in Washington County and an irreplaceable monument to Western Pennsylvania architecture.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is a fine example of the Post Colonial style in Western Pennsylvania, combining Georgian, Roman Classical and Adamesque forms in a distinctive local manner. It is described as among the most important architectural contributions to Washington County, noted for its size, form, craftsmanship, stone facade, entrance and cornice. The document states it can bear comparison with similar work on the eastern seaboard.
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 75001674, listed April 10, 1975. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 225 N. Central Ave., Canonsburg |
|---|---|
| County | Washington County |
| Listed | April 10, 1975 |
| Reference number | 75001674 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1802 |
| Architectural style | Georgian; Post Colonial style |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Original site; described as residential in its present use. |
| Acreage | 0.2 |
| Coordinates | 40.26087, -80.18719 (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 75001674.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q15272846
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.