Fullerton Inn
Also known as: Jacktown Inn,Jacksonville Hotel,Fullerton-Sverdrup House
Why it's listed
Built along the Great Road in Irwin, Westmoreland County, the Fullerton Inn began as a fieldstone tavern in 1798, erected by William Fullerton, who had moved to western Pennsylvania from Lancaster County. The two-and-a-half-story building has a stone section with a wood frame addition of five bays added in 1805, when the inn had become a regular stagecoach stop. Travelers found food, lodging and a large fireplace there, and nearby farmers sold produce and meat to the tavern. The inn became a community gathering place by the 1830s, and a local Odd Fellows lodge was reportedly formed there. Its significance lies in its association with travel and commerce on the Great Road, and it is regarded as a rare surviving example of the wayside inns that once served that route.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the inn is significant for its role in travel and commerce along the Great Road between Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, serving stagecoach travelers and the surrounding rural community. It is presented as a rare surviving example of the many inns that once lined the route, and it is said to have hosted local organizations and community gatherings.
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 83002285, listed June 30, 1983. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 11029 Old Trail Rd., Irwin |
|---|---|
| County | Westmoreland County |
| Listed | June 30, 1983 |
| Reference number | 83002285 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | William Fullerton (builder) |
| Architectural style | Vernacular Federal |
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Transportation, Social History |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Maintained; the inserted brick siding is being removed to restore the original appearance. |
| Acreage | 1 |
| Coordinates | 40.32977, -79.72609 (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 83002285.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5508294
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.