McCalls Ferry Farm
Also known as: McCall, Robert and Matthew, Farm; Atkins--Trout Farm
Why it's listed
Located on the southwest side of the Susquehanna River in Lower Chanceford Township, this 300-acre dairy farm grew from a late-eighteenth-century settlement near the McCall family's ferry crossing. The banked farmhouse, dating to about 1799, is built of stone with stucco and slate roofs, and its two-story rear ell was built at the same time. The Sweitzer barn, also from about 1799, rests on a 60-by-60-foot stone foundation and has a heavy timber frame and a long forebay. Under the Trout family, from 1907 onward, the farm became one of the largest dairy operations in the area and raised Guernsey cattle and tobacco. The farm's buildings and ferry-related sites reflect the region's Pennsylvania German and Scots-Irish agricultural traditions across more than a century of operation.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the farm is a strong representative example of a typical York County farm operating through the 19th and early 20th centuries, and that it was one of the largest dairy operations in the area from 1907 to 1946. Its farmhouse and barns are cited as among the oldest in the township, and the farmhouse is described as one of the first in the county built in the Pennsylvania German vernacular farmhouse design.
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 00001344, listed November 8, 2000. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 447 McCalls Ferry Rd., Lower Chanceford Township |
|---|---|
| County | York County |
| Listed | November 8, 2000 |
| Reference number | 00001344 |
| Resource type | District |
| Period of significance | C. 1799-1950 |
| Architectural style | Pennsylvania German vernacular |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Agriculture, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The Kilgore family has operated a dairy business at the farm for four generations; the nomination describes a medium-sized dairy operation. |
| Acreage | 300 |
| Coordinates | 39.82651, -76.35507 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
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 00001344.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6800113
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.