Willis House
Why it's listed
Built in 1762 on a rise near a large spring north of York, this two and one-half story brick house was made by William Willis, a mason who also made the bricks himself. Its Flemish bond walls, steep roof, large gable-end chimneys, and a basement kitchen reflect the English Georgian style, which differed from the prevailing local Germanic architecture of the time. Glazed headers in the west gable spell out W W 1762. Willis was a Quaker who worked on the county courthouse, a county jail, and the York Friends Meeting House. The house is regarded as one of the best examples of this style in York County and is associated with the Willis family, including Samuel Willis, who was linked to the underground railroad in the mid-1800s. Its interior retains original floorboards, chair rails, and door frames in many rooms, and the house is described as among the earliest brick houses in the area.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is one of York County's best examples of English Georgian architecture, in contrast to the prevailing local Germanic building traditions. Its builder, William Willis, was a mason who worked on early county buildings and a Quaker meeting house, and the house is described as possibly the first brick house in the York area. The nomination also cites the family's association with the underground railroad.
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 79002370, listed April 20, 1979. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 135 Willis Run Rd., York |
|---|---|
| County | York County |
| Listed | April 20, 1979 |
| Reference number | 79002370 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1762 |
| Architect / builder | William Willis |
| Architectural style | English Georgian |
| Areas of significance | Industry |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The description states the building is in fair condition and is being restored by the city of York; a fire damaged some flooring and one fireplace was bricked up. |
| Acreage | 2.6 |
| Coordinates | 39.97241, -76.73731 (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 79002370.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q8022070
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.