Bobb, Barnett, House
Also known as: Old Log House
Why it's listed
Built in 1811-1812 by Barnett Bobb, this two-story log dwelling in York is noted for its dovetailed corner construction, which contrasts with the more common notched corners of the period. Its square logs are chinked with stone and mortar and its interior and exterior walls were whitewashed. Unusually large for an early log house, it has four rooms and a hall on the first floor and a full second-floor attic, with vertical beaded board partitions and a single chimney serving a small fireplace in the living-dining area. Documentary evidence for the construction date includes Bobb's 1811 land purchase and 1812 tax assessment on a dwelling of this size. The house was converted to a two-family dwelling at an undetermined time and later housed families whose heads worked as farmers, tanners, and teamsters. Restoration in the 1970s relied on details uncovered when plaster and lath were removed, including the surviving window and partition-board ends.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is distinctive for its dovetailed corners, square logs, and unusually large two-story, four-room-and-hall plan compared with typical early log houses of the region. Its construction date is documented through land purchase and tax records, and it is linked to the Bobb family of York County.
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 75001682, listed October 29, 1975. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Rear of 157 West Market St., York |
|---|---|
| County | York County |
| Listed | October 29, 1975 |
| Reference number | 75001682 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1811-1812 |
| Architect / builder | Barnett Bobb (builder) |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Restored; moved from its original location on South Pershing Avenue to its present site because of planned enlargement of a nearby high school. |
| Acreage | 0.1 |
| Within district | York Historic District |
| Coordinates | 39.96205, -76.73142 (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 75001682.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q4861625
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.