Wright, Enoch, House
Why it's listed
Built around 1815 for the Enoch Wright family, this two-and-a-half-story brick farmhouse near Venetia in southwestern Washington County has a center-hall plan, a five-bay central block and one-and-a-half-story symmetrical brick wings on the east and west sides. The wings are one room deep, original to the house, and each contains a large open-hearth fireplace, while the upper half-story rooms above them can only be reached from outside the main house. Interior woodwork, mantels and cast iron fireplace inserts survive, including incised reed motifs typical of western Pennsylvania around 1800. Enoch Wright was a landowner, justice of the peace and philanthropist who gave land and money for a nearby chapel in 1823. The house passed through his family and then to tenants until 1957, and the Peters Creek Historical Society acquired it in 1976. Its unusual wing arrangement, together with its well-preserved interior, is the basis for its listing.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is a fine example of early 19th century vernacular architecture in western Pennsylvania, with Federal style influences in its woodwork and fireplaces. Its attached, symmetrical wings with no interior access to the half-story rooms above are described as unusual and distinctive, and the house is regarded as largely unaltered since construction.
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 07000466, listed May 24, 2007. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 815 Venetia Rd., Peters Township |
|---|---|
| County | Washington County |
| Listed | May 24, 2007 |
| Reference number | 07000466 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | c.1815 |
| Architectural style | Vernacular with Federal style influences |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Now the home of the Peters Creek Historical Society; the house is described as virtually unaltered apart from a rear bathroom addition, a replaced front porch, and a mid-20th century kitchen in one wing. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 40.24990, -80.02873 (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 07000466.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5379344
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.