Byerly House
Also known as: Best House
Why it's listed
Built in brick in 1842 on Menk Road in Upper Burrell Township, the Byerly House joins its main two-story section to an earlier one-story rear ell that probably dates to the 1830s. The house sits on a sloping lot, with its front foundation exposed, and its five-bay front uses Flemish bond while the other walls use common bond. Its central hall plan, transomed and sidelighted front door, and fluted bull's-eye woodwork show Greek Revival influence, although the house has no cornice or portico. The rear ell has back-to-back fireplaces, a large cooking hearth, and unhewn rafters and joists with bark still on them, features more typical of early log or stone buildings. The land was part of a 221-acre tract patented in 1788 to Joseph Byerly, son of an early settler. The house is regarded as unusual in the township because so much of its original interior woodwork survives in both sections, including the staircase, mantels, and built-in cupboards.
Significance in brief: The house is described as the only intact brick house from the first half of the 19th century in Upper Burrell Township, and it retains an unusual degree of exterior and interior architectural integrity. Its vernacular design combines Post-Colonial elements in the rear ell with Greek Revival elements in the main section, and the original woodwork and interior details are largely intact.
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 85001567, listed July 18, 1985. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 115 Menk Rd., New Kensington |
|---|---|
| County | Westmoreland County |
| Listed | July 18, 1985 |
| Reference number | 85001567 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1830s-1842 |
| Architectural style | Vernacular with Post-Colonial and Greek Revival elements |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Altered in places, with original window sash replaced in the 1960s and the roof changed to asphalt shingles; the document does not state current use. |
| Acreage | 0.4 |
| Coordinates | 40.55397, -79.68335 (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 85001567.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5004059
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.