HomeMy WebLinkAbout20181003AGENDA
HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION
FOR WASHINGTON COUNTY, MARYLAND
Workshop room #2001
WASHINGTON COUNTY ADMINISTRATION BUILDING
100 WEST WASHINGTON STREET
October 3, 2018
7:00PM
M
REGULAR MEETING AGENDA - 7:00 PM
A. Call to Order & Roll Call
B. Minutes — September 5, 2018
C. Communications & Bills
D. Unfinished Business
E. Budget
F. New Business
1. Review and Recommendation -Application for National Register listing
Cool Hollow House, 9302 Old National Pike, Hagerstown
G. Other Business
H. Closed Session
I. Adjournment
* = written material enclosed
\HDC\A Oct 3 2018.DOC
NOTICE IS GIVEN THAT THE HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION MAY MEET IN CLOSED SESSION PURSUANT TO SECTION 10.508, STATE GOVERNMENT
ARTICLE, ANNOTATED CODE OF MARYLAND. INDIVIDUALS REQUIRING SPECIAL ACCOMMODATIONS ARE REQUESTED TO CONTACT THE WASHINGTON COUNTY
PLANNING DEPARTMENT. CONTACT PLANNING DEPARTMENT AT (240) 313-2430 VOICEITDD TO MAKE ARRANGEMENTS NO LATER THAN TEN (10) WORKING DAYS PRIOR
TO THE MEETING.
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NPS Form 10-900 OMB No. 10024-0018
(Expires 5-31-2012)
United States Department of the Interior
National Park Service
National Register of Historic Places
Registration Form
This form Is for use in nominating or requesting determinations for individual properties and districts. See instructions in How to Complete the National
Registerof Historic Places Registration Form (National Register Bulletin 16A). Complete each Item by marking 'X' in the appropriate box or by entering
the information requested. If any item does not apply to the property being documented, enter "N/A" for "not applicable." For functions, architectural
classification, materials, and areas of significance, enter only categories and subcategories from the instructions. Place additional entries and narrative
items on continuation sheets (NPS Form 10-900a). Use a typewriter, word processor, or computer, to complete all items.
1. Name of Property
historic name Cool Hollow House/Emmert's Home
other names WA -11-195
2. Location
street & number 9302 Old National Pike
city or town
state Maryland code MD county Washington code 043
3. State/Federal Agency Certification
❑ not for publication
❑ vicinity
zip code 21740
As the designated authority under the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended, I hereby certify that this ❑ nomination ❑
request for determination of eligibility meets the documentation standards for registering properties in the National Register of Historic
Places and meets the procedural and professional requirements set forth in 36 CFR Part 60. In my opinion, the property ❑ meets ❑ does
not meet the National Register criteria. I recommend that this property be considered significant ❑ nationally ❑ statewide ❑ locally. (❑
See continuation sheet for additional comments).
Signature of certifying official/Title
State or Federal agency and bureau
my
Signature of certifying official/Title Date
State or Federal agency and bureau
4. National Park Service Certification
I hereby, certify that this property is:
❑ entered in the National Register.
❑ See continuation sheet.
❑ determined eligible for the National
Register.
❑ See continuation sheet.
❑ Determined not eligible for the National
Register.
❑ removed from the National Register.
❑ other (explain):
Signature of the Keeper
Date of Action
Cool Hollow House/Emmert's Home (WA -11-195) Washington County, Maryland
Name of Property County and State
5. Classification
Ownership of Property Category of Property Number of Resources within Property
(Check as many boxes as apply) (Check only one box) (Do not include previously listed resources in the count)
M
Private
❑
building(s)
Contributing
Noncontributing
❑
public -local
❑
district
4
1 buildings
❑
public -State
❑
site
4
sites
❑
public -Federal
❑
structure
structures
❑
object
objects
8
1 Total
Name of related multiple property listing number of contributing resources previously
(Enter "N/A" if property is not part of a multiple property listing) listed in the National Register
6. Function or Use
Historic Functions
Current Functions
(Enter categories from instructions)
(Enter categories from Instructions)
DOMESTIC/Single Dwelling
DOMESTIC/Single Dwelling
7. Description
Architectural Classification
Materials
(Enter categories from instructions)
(Enter categories from instructions)
FEDERAL/GREEK REVIVAL
foundation Stone
Walls Brick
Roof Standing Seam/Metal
Other Wood
Narrative Description
(Describe the historic and current condition of the property
on one or more continuation sheets)
NPS Form 10-900-a
(Expires 5-31-2012)
United States Department of the Interior
National Park Service
National Register of Historic Places
Continuation Sheet
Section 7 Page 1
Description Summary:
OMB Approval No. 1024-0018
Cool Hollow House/Emmert's Home
(WA -11-195)
Name of Property
Washington County, Maryland
County and State
Cool Hollow House, a c.1823 Federal/Greek Revival style farmhouse of brick construction on
fieldstone foundations, rests on a sloping, narrow strip of land comprising of approximately 7
acres between the Old National Pike and the east side of the Antietam Creek. The five bay
house, with a two bay 1 V2 story wing on the north end, has a central entrance, covered by a one
bay, one story temple form porch with large square pillars. The interior retains its original,
simple, but elegant woodwork.
General Description:
Cool Hollow House, a c.1823 Federal/Greek Revival style farmhouse of brick construction,
resides on land comprising of 6.92 acres between the Old National Pike, and the east side of the
Antietam Creek.
The property is the remnant of once large farm of 180 acres dating to the first quarter of the 19th
century at least. This farm was owned for more than a century by the Emmert and Schindel
families, both prominent surnames in Washington County history. The property occupied both
sides of the Old National Pike and in addition to the main house; it included several smaller
tenant houses, and a collection of stone barns, three spring houses and other outbuildings. The
farm included a strip of land on the west bank of the Antietam, with an 18th century mill
complex, now in ruin, which the current plot still retains. The landscape and buildings still retain
their authentic 19th century character.
Cool Hollow House faces east toward the Old National Pike and South Mountain. A paved,
circular drive begins immediately adjacent to the Cool Hollow Culvert (WA -II -131), a stone arch
bridge built in the early part of the 19th century during the construction of the National Road,
begun in 1811. The house sits on gently sloping ground, descending to the banks of the
Antietam Creek. The home is surrounded by sprawling lawns, inhabited by venerable trees,
including Oak, Walnut, and Sycamore. The property includes considerable water frontage on the
Antietam, having land on both the east, and west banks. The village of Funkstown is exactly 3
miles northwest on the Old National Pike, and the village of Boonsboro is approximately 4 %2
miles to the southeast. Within the immediate vicinity of nominated property, three other
Maryland Historic properties reside. The 18th -19th century Tollgate House (WA -II -177), sits to
the north. Lone Pine Farm, the nominated property's original stone bank barn, with a date of
1793 in the rafter, and a tenant house (WA -II -206), sits directly to the south. Diagonally across
the Old National Pike is Hillside Lake Farm (WA -I-420).
NPS Form 10-900-a
(Expires 5-31-2012)
United States Department of the Interior
National Park Service
National Register of Historic Places
Continuation Sheet
Section 7 Page 2
OMB Approval No. 1024-0018
Cool Hollow I-louse/Emmert's Home
(WA -11-195)
Name of Property
Washington County, Maryland
County and State
Cool Hollow House is a 2 %2 story five bay brick dwelling resting on limestone foundations, with
a 2 bay, 1 % story brick wing projecting from the north end with small gable roof dormers. The
front elevation is formal with five bays and a central entrance. Bricks are laid in Common bond,
or American bond on all sides, with five stretcher rows to each row of headers. Heavy wooden
lintels above the openings with projecting, decorative corner blocks enhance the front elevation.
Substantial molded wooden cornices span the front and rear elevations at the roofline.
Large brick chimneys at each end gable of the main block, and at the end gable of the wing are
located inside the walls. Standing seam sheet metal finishes the roof terminating with barge
boards set directly against the end walls.
The main entrance is covered by a one bay, one story temple form porch with a heavily molded
pediment, and large square pillars. Simple, but heavy balustrades link the pillars to the structure.
The tall six panel door is crowned by a transom with diamond shaped panes, and surrounded by
deep, raised panel molding.
The north wing contains a recessed porch along the entire front elevation, a typical feature of the
region in the 18th and 19th centuries. Off of this porch, a six panel coffin door with a simple three
light transom and deep, raised panel molding leads to the formal drawing room. A two panel
service door with glazing on the upper half, and a transom leads to the old kitchen, and a window
with two panes of bullseye glass, (reportedly brought to the United States from an ancient
English house by a former owner) sits beside the service door.
Windows have six over six pane sashes, and are held with narrow frames finished with a bead at
the inside edge. All windows on the first floor are flanked with four panel shutters, while the
upper floors have louvered shutters with stationary slats. The south end of the house contains
one window on each level at the southwest coiner. Both ends of the main block and the end of
the north wing, have a pair of six pane hinged windows in the attic level flanking the chimney.
In the early -mid 20th century, a screened -in porch was constructed on the rear of the north wing,
and was converted into a four season room surrounded by windows on three sides in the 1960s.
Interior:
The front entrance opens into a full length formal stair and entrance hall, with rooms on either
side. The modified Georgian floorplan, that once consisted of two rooms on each side of the
center hall, was modified to two large rooms in the mid -20th century, however all original
moldings and flooring remain.
NPS Form 10-900-a
(Expires 5-31-2012)
United States Department of the Interior
National Park Service
National Register of Historic Places
Continuation Sheet
Section 7 Page 3
OMB Approval No. 1024-0018
Cool Hollow House/Emmert's Home
(WA -11-195)
Name of Property
Washington County, Maryland
County and State
The staircase rises against the north wall of the entrance hall, and gently ascends to a slight curve
at the landing, turning back on itself and rising again to the second floor. The walnut newel post
is heavy and simply turned, with a more delicate hand rail and simple turned balusters that taper
slightly. Entrance hall molding is deep with raised panels on both the vertical and horizontal
surfaces. The same molding is in the room to the left of the hall. All other trim in the house is
more simple; symmetrically molded, with corner blocks. Mantelpieces are bulky with carved,
raised panels and tapering columns.
The north wing contains a massive service fireplace with simple mantle and its original cranes.
A steep set of winder stairs leads to the large %2 story bedroom above.
The main section of the house sits on a full stone cellar with a generous crawl space beneath the
wing. Built directly on top of the stone bedrock, the limestone shelf can be seen protruding
through the east wall of the basement.
Additional Buildings:
In addition to the main house, there are three other service buildings remaining on the property
located behind the home. A stone spring house, built into the slope is one story at the front and
two at the back with two rooms separated by a brick wall. An early 20th century frame potting
shed, built on older stone foundations, extends off the rear side of the spring house.
Underground through a wooden door in the potting shed, a stone root cellar resides. Beyond the
springhouse and coy pond installed in the mid -20th century, along the banks of the Antietam
Creek, an 18th century stone forge without its roof sits surrounded by ancient Walnut trees. The
forge retains its massive raised stone fireplace, and characteristic low windows in the front
elevation. A mid-century three stall garage with mechanics pit stands to the south of the house.
Additional Sites:
On the west bank of the Antietam Creek on property belonging to the main plot, the ruin of an
18th century mill complex remains. The stone foundations, walls, and a dug mill race remain
undisturbed. The 1794 map of Washington County Maryland, by Dennis Griffith (Figure 1)
shows the site as a Powder Mill. The nominated property also contains another site that was a
Fulling and Dyeing Mill operated by Henry Funk' prior to 1812.
Cottingham D., "Our Legacy in Stone," The Daily Mail (Hagerstown, MD), October 22, 1964
NPS Form 10-900-a
(Expires 5-31-2012)
United States Department of the Interior
National Park Service
National Register of Historic Places
Continuation Sheet
Section 7 Page 4
OMB Approval No. 1024-0018
Cool Hollow House/Emmert's Home
(WA -11-195)
Name of Property
Washington County, Maryland
County and State
Residing at the bottom of a dug well in the front lawn is a cave opening that leads to the Cool
Hollow Well Cave, a formation in the limestone bedrock, listed by the National Geological
Survey2. The cave is one of the thirty listed caves in Washington County, Maryland.
Washington County contains nearly sixty percent of the known, listed caves in the state of
Maryland3. The opening to the cave can be seen at the bottom of the well.
Additionally, the property includes an intact brick -domed cistern located directly behind the
home, date and materials congruent with the construction of the main house.
Resource Count:
4 contributing buildings
1 non-contributing building
4 contributing sites
Evaluation of Integrity:
Cool Hollow House is a fine example of a transitional Federal/Greek Revival style country home
from west central Maryland. The house and its dependencies remain highly intact with key
components- design, layout, and woodwork -all present. The setting in which the property and
buildings sit is largely unchanged since the mid -19th century. The contributing factors of the
nomination are the significant early -mid 19th century architecture, unspoiled 18th century mill
complex site on the property, proof of civil war skirmishes on the farm, a section of the original
National Road, the listed Cool Hollow Well cave, and its prominent location on the Antietam
Creek along the Old National Pike render this property historically significant. Therefore, Cool
Hollow House retains a high level of integrity of location, setting, materials, design,
workmanship, feeling, and association with historical events.
Franz, R.; Slifer, D. (1971). Maryland Geological Survey's Caves of Maryland, Maryland Geological Survey. pp. 72-73.
IBID, pp. 8-9
Cool Hollow House/Emmert's Home (WA -II -195)
Name of Property
8. Statement of S
Applicable National Register Criteria
(Mark "x" in one or more boxes for the criteria qualifying the property for
National Register listing)
A Property is associated with events that have made a
significant contribution to the broad pattern of our
history.
❑ B Property associated with the lives of persons
significant in our past.
C Property embodies the distinctive characteristics of a
type, period, or method of construction or represents
the work of a master, or possesses high artistic values,
or represents a significant and distinguishable entity
whose components lack individual distinction.
®
D
Property has yielded, or is likely to yield, information
important in prehistory or history.
Criteria Considerations
(Mark
"x'
in all the boxes that apply)
Property is:
❑
A
owned by a religious institution or used for religious
purposes.
❑
B
removed from its original location.
❑
C
a birthplace or grave.
❑
D
a cemetery.
❑
E
a reconstructed building, object, or structure.
❑
F
a commemorative property.
❑
G
less than 50 years of age or achieved significance
within the past 50 years.
Narrative Statement of Significance
(Explain the significance of the property on one or more continuation sheets)
Washington County, Maryland
County and State
(Enter categories from instructions)
ARCHITECTURE
ARCHEOLOGY
MANUFACTURING/COMMERCE
MILITARY
Period of Significance
1790-1863
Significant Dates
1823
July 9-10, 1863
Significant Person
(Complete if Criterion B is marked above)
Cultural Affiliation
Architect/Builder
9. Major Bibliographical References
Bibliography
(Cite the books, articles, and other sources used in preparing this form on one or more continuation sheets)
Previous documentation on files (NPS):
Primary location of additional data:
❑
preliminary determination of individual listing (36
®
State Historic Preservation Office
CFR 67) has been requested
❑
Other State agency
❑
previously listed in the National Register
❑
Federal agency
❑
previously determined eligible by the National Register
❑
Local government
❑
designated a National Historic Landmark
❑
University
❑
recorded by Historic American Buildings Survey
❑
Other
#
Name of repository:
❑
recorded by Historic American Engineering Record
NPS Form 10-900-a
(Expires 5-31-2012)
United States Department of the Interior
National Park Service
National Register of Historic Places
Continuation Sheet
Section 8 Page 1
Summary Statement of Significance:
OMB Approval No. 1024-0018
Cool Hollow House/tnmert'sHome
(WA -II -195)
Name of Property
Washington County, Maryland
County and State
Cool Hollow House (MIHP # WA -II -195) is locally significant under National Register Criterion
C as a fine example of a vernacular adaption of a late Federal/Greek Revival style farmhouse.
The home is significant for its large scale, and simple, stylistic attributes, that define an early
example. Built c. 1823 during the peak years of the westward expansion, the large brick house
with its elegant temple form porch and large chimneys sits prominently on the National Road,
built to impress. Located at the only point where the Antietam Creek meets the National Road
between Fumkstown and Boonsboro, this particular site makes its location a critical point along
the route. Early deeds read that travelers are allowed to use the natural springs located on the
grounds. The nominated property derives additional significance under National Register
Criterion D, for the archeological potential of the mill sites and well/cave on the property. The
18th century mill complex on the property is shown on the 1794 Dennis Griffith map of
Maryland (Figure 1) as a Powder Mill. The ruin is an undisturbed example of an early mill
complex along the Antietam Creek. Another possible ruin of an early 19th century fulling and
dyeing mill run by Henry Funk4, sits on the property near the Cool Hollow Culvert on the run-off
from Beaver Creek. These sites offer potential to yield important information regarding
manufacturing and commerce in the nation's early history. The Cool Hollow Well, a 35 foot
deep man-made well that intersects a largely unexplored cave formation in the Elbrook limestone
beneath the front lawn, also has potential to yield information important to prehistory or history.
Cool Hollow House is significant under National Register Criterion A, as a site of documented
Civil War skirmishes. During the retreat from Gettysburg, both the Confederate and Union
forces engaged along the National Road between Boonsboro and Funkstown on the days of July
8-12, 1863. On July 9th thru July 1 1th battle was joined by Confederate and Union cavalry
forces on the Cool Hollow Farm owned by the prominent Schindel family. The period of
significance c. 1823 represents the date of construction of Cool Hollow House, and the period of
significance of July 8-12, 1863 represents the Civil War skirmishes and encampments that took
place around the home.
Resource History and Historic Context:
Historic Context
4 Cottingham D., "Our Legacy in Stone," The Daily Mail (Hagerstown, MD), October 22, 1964
NPS Form 10-900-a
(Expires 5-31-2012)
United States Department of the Interior
National Park Service
National Register of Historic Places
Continuation Sheet
Section 8 Page 2
OMB Approval No. 1024-0018
Cool Hollow House/Emmert'sHome
(WA -II -195)
Name of Property
Washington County, Maryland
County and State
Cool Hollow House represents an important piece of regional history, rooted in the rich
agricultural and manufacturing opportunities that Washington County provided in the 18th and
19th centuries. The home is significant as well due to the fighting that took place around it in
1863 during the Civil War.
"A few pioneering farmers and fur traders initially settled the area in the 1730s and
1740s. At that time Lord Baltimore had just opened Maryland's frontier or "back country"
for settlement, and Germans were migrating through the area to create settlements in
Virginia. Seeking to develop the back portions of Maryland, Lord Baltimore began to
encourage settlement on his colony's frontier. Speculators from eastern Maryland
responded by acquiring large tracts for subdivision and resale to German farmers. As
settlement progressed, political divisions of the frontier occurred. Until 1748, the land
was part of Prince George's County. Afterward it was Frederick County until 1776 when
Washington County was formed. Settlement was sparse until the close of the French and
Indian War in 1763 and the end of Pontiac's rebellion the following year. Thereafter,
settlement progressed rapidly as transportation routes improved and word of the rich
farmland in the Cumberland and Shenandoah valleys spread. The land was made fertile
by numerous limestone outcrops, which give special visual character to the landscape as
well as providing material for buildings and fences. The English speculators who had
acquired large grants of land as investments began to subdivide and sell into smaller lots
of 100-300 acres which were ideal for a profitable family farm. These farms were divided
into fields of 20-40 acres and planted with small grains and corn or clover. Other lands
were left in pasture and woodlots, as the process of clearing the land was slow. Woodlot
and pasture functions were often combined in areas where rock outcrops made cultivation
difficult. Allowing cattle and hogs to forage through woodlands helped to keep them
open and clear.
While the valley lands of Washington County were easily converted to the general/grain
farming traditions carried on by German and Pennsylvania -German immigrants, the
mountains bordering the valleys on the east and west provided different opportunities for
development. Covered with old growth trees and laden with iron ore, the mountains were
soon home to several iron furnace operations. The Green Spring Furnace, nestled within
the North Mountain ranges to the west, was established in 1765 by Lancelot Jacques and
Thomas Johnson.' The insatiable need for wood to provide charcoal for the furnaces
ensured that previously forested mountain land was eventually cleared.
Through the first half of the 19th century, the west -central region of Maryland became
known for grain production. Grain was sold in bulk, or processed into flour and meal, or
NPS Form 10-900-a
(Expires 5-31-2012)
United States Department of the Interior
National Park Service
National Register of Historic Places
Continuation Sheet
Section 8 Page 3
OMB Approval No. 1024-0018
Cool Hollow House/Emmert'sHome
(WA-lI-195)
Name of Property
Washington County, Maryland
County and State
distilled into whiskey. These commodities were shipped to markets in Baltimore or
Philadelphia. Shipping from western Maryland was a problem, and hindered the growth
and prosperity associated with grain production. There was no reliable inland water route
to the farming areas, although navigation of the Potomac River was seasonally available
from the 1790s through 1828. Road transportation served as the primary artery for the
freight hauling needs of the region. Maryland, therefore promoted turnpike development,
although most of these toll routes were privately funded. The output and growth in
population in the western areas of Maryland encouraged construction and improvement
of roads.
In 1806 the Federal government began the construction of a highway that would lead to
the newly acquired Louisiana Purchase lands comprising much of the central portion of
the United States. The "National Road" began in Cumberland, Maryland partly following
the old Braddock Road, a rough wagon track established by explorers and traders, and led
to Wheeling in Virginia (West Virginia) and later on to Terre Haute, Indiana. The main
wagon road from Baltimore to Cumberland, a collection of privately owned and operated
turnpike segments that ran through the heart of Washington County was eventually
upgraded and consolidated to become part of the National Road system. The National
Pike, as it became known, was one of the most heavily traveled east -west routes in
America with traffic passing all hours of the day and night."5
Military Context
General Robert E. Lee began his retreat from Gettysburg on July 4, 1863 after a grueling battle
with the Union Army. Lee's plan was to retreat through Maryland over South Mountain by way
of Cashtown, Hagerstown and Williamsport, and cross the Potomac at the latter and into the
relative safety of Virginia. "Time was of the essence, and Lee's army had a substantial head
start on Meade. Most of the Southern army passed through Fairfield Gap and Monterey Pass.
The goal was Williamsport, but whether they would reach it in time -and safely cross the river -
remained an open question in the minds of many Confederate soldiers."6
Major General George G. Meade led the Union Army in chase through the farmlands of
Pennsylvania and into Maryland. Combat, including raids, cavalry battles, and skirmishes
occurred at several places beginning at Fairfield, Pa July 3, 1863. Some of the heaviest fighting
of the retreat occurred in the rich farmland between Funkstown and Boonsboro, MD. Much of
the conflict was along the National Road on July 8 -July 12, 1863. This area was no stranger to
5 NRHP Reference #11000882, WA -V-015
6 Wittenberg, p. 341
NPS Form 10-900-a
(Expires 5-31-2012)
United States Department of the Interior
National Park Service
National Register of Historic Places
Continuation Sheet
Section 8 Page 4
OMB Approval No. 1024-0018
Cool Hollow HousefEmmert'sHome
(WA -II -195)
Name of Property
Washington County, Maryland
County and State
war as it was in the same general area that a year before had seen the bloodiest single day of
battle in American history, the Battle of Antietam. The final battle was on July 23, 1863 at
Manassas Gap, Va. thus ending the Gettysburg Campaign.
The Battle of Boonsboro took place on July 8, 1863. Major General J.E.B. Stuart commanded
five cavalry brigades on a mission to prevent the Union Army from intercepting Lee's forces,
thus cutting off their escape across the Potomac into Virginia. The battle began in the morning
along the National Road beginning four and a half miles north of the village of Boonsboro at the
Beaver Creek Bridge. Stuart rode south from Funkstown and intercepted Brig. General H.
Judson Kilpatrick at this location. They fought all day across the mud soaked fields north of the
town of Boonsboro culminating in what was the largest cavalry battle in Maryland during the
campaign. Heavy fighting took place until after 7pm, when the crumbling Union forces were
reinforced by the Union infantry, thus sending Stuart back north towards Funkstown. "After
being driven back across Beaver Creek, the Confederates took up a strong defensive position
approximately four miles northwest of the day's battlefield."` The location of this campsite is a
field diagonally across from the nominated property.
The evening of July 9, 1863 provided much action on the nominated property as Union Brigadier
General John Buford ordered General Thomas Devin to search out the positions of the
Confederate army known to be camped around the location of the nominated property.
"Late on the afternoon of July 9, orders came for the Northern horsemen to mount up.
Around 4:00 p.m., Buford ordered Devin to reconnoiter the Confederate positions west of
the Beaver Creek bridge between the towns of Boonsboro and Funkstown. While
scouting, Devin encountered a detachment of cavalry and artillery left by Stuart on high
ground near his main line. About 5:30, Devin deployed a line of mounted ski mishers to
sweep the left flank of the Confederates as far as a bend in Antietam Creels. Lt. Albert O.
Vincent's combined batteries B and L, 2nd U.S. Artillery, supported the horse soldiers.
Devin dismounted two squadrons and, connecting with elements of Gamble's brigade on
the left, advanced against the enemy line. Ferguson's Brigade held a prominent ridge
overlooking the "Boonsboro Road, and a battery of horse artillery under Capt. Thomas E.
Jackson supported him. Grumble Jones rode up with his brigade on the right of Jackson's
guns, while Chambliss' Brigade pulled up on the left. Three full brigades of Stuart's
horse soldiers now held a strong position on the high ground overlooking Antietam
Creek.
Wittenberg, p. 636
NPS Form 10-900-a
(Expires 5-31-2012)
United States Department of the Interior
National Park Service
National Register of Historic Places
Continuation Sheet
Section 8 Page 5
OMB Approval No. 1024-0018
Cool Hollow House/Emmert'sHome
(WA -l1-195)
Name of Property
Washington County, Maryland
County and State
One company of the 17th Virginia Cavalry deployed as skirmishers. As their Yankee
opposites advanced, both sides dashed for a rail fence about 300 hundred yards in front of
each side's main line. The Virginians won the foot race and unleashed a potent volley in
the faces of the Federals, who tried to use the protection of waist -high corn to cover their
advance. The Southerners swept each row with their rifle fire, inflicting severe casualties.
While the skirmishers dueled, Vincent's Union artillery picked out targets and opened on
Ferguson's and Chambliss' positions. "The air above our heads seemed to be full of
splinters, bark, and bullets but we were thus far safe and unhurt as the enemies [sic]
bullets mostly struck the top of the fence or went over our heads," recalled a member of
the 17th Virginia. Their position grew untenable when Chambliss' troopers gave way
under Vincent's artillery fire, their withdrawal exposing Ferguson's left flank. When
Chambliss' line crumbled, Devin's troopers advanced quickly against it.
After a short and sharp fight, Devin's skirmishers took the crest while the left squadron
ran into a large camp of Stuart's cavalry and quickly dispersed it. "The federal cavalry
had advanced on the road so far as to nearly cut us off and I distinctly heard loud
commands to halt, but in the confusion supposed it was our officers getting their men into
line but it was not, it was the enemy, who had nearly overtaken us," wrote Virginia
trooper James Hodam, who had advanced with his company and carried off a wounded
comrade, all while suffering from a wound of his own. As his comrades fell back in the
face of the powerful Union attacks, Hodam stumbled. Covered with his own blood, and
feeling weak and sick, he leaned against a fence along the road in an effort to catch his
breath.
Pressing their advantage, Devin's and Gamble's brigades drove the Confederates. "[We]
drove them about 2 miles like fun," one of Gamble's troopers later recounted. One
member of the 8th New York succinctly described the action. "Out again. Found the
rebels about 5 p.m. and made them get, up and get. Sometimes they run us and
sometimes we run them until they brought up their infantry and we had to leave," recalled
a member of the 1st Virginia Cavalry. Stuart called upon Chew's Battery of horse
artillery to help "fend off the enemy attack. With darkness settling on the field, Chew's
guns were only able to fire a couple rounds before it was too difficult to find suitable
targets.
Devin's men bivouacked on the field. It had been another good day for "Buford's Hard
Hitter," as Devin was known to men in Buford's division. "The enemy contested the
ground with their usual earnestness," noted one of Gamble's Hoosiers, "but were forced
back beyond Beaver Creek. The battle continued until late in evening and we stayed in
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line of battle." Pleasonton proposed that Devin be promoted to brigadier general and
assume the position left vacant by Elon Farnsworth's death at Gettysburg."8
On the morning of July 10, the Union Army swept north from Boonsboro to Funkstown. The
Union Army soon encountered Confederate forces after passing over Beaver Creek on the
National Road.9 The confederates were driven "beyond Antietam on the left and to Funkstown
on this road,"70 thus beginning the Battle of Funkstown south of the village. Following the
Battle, the Union established a line running from the nominated property east towards Doub's
Mill along the general line of Cool Hollow Road, establishing breastworks and entrenchments
and remained until July 12.11 On the afternoon of July 11, three additional skirmishes occurred
within the close vicinity of the nominated property. l2
Cool Hollow House represents an important piece of history resting on the National Road, one of
the most important routes travelled, and fought along during the Civil War in Maryland. The
nominated property hosted numerous skirmishes July 8-11, 1863, Confederate campsites on July
9, and Union campsites and entrenchments July 10-12. The property's prominent location three
miles south of Funkstown and four and a half miles north of Boonsboro, is the only point
between the two villages where the National Road curves to parallel the Antietam Creek. High
grounds on the right forced the road to bisect the property, making this an ideal strategic location
for both the north and south. The house stands as a rare witness to some of the most interesting,
and tumultuous times in our nation's history.
Architectural Context
Farmhouses in mid -central Maryland vary greatly in both style and construction. When
settlement began in the early part of the 18th century, log was the preferred material used to build
dwellings. Some of the wealthier families used the readily available limestone that was abundant
in the Cumberland Valley area of Washington County. While very few of the log structures
survive, or have been covered over by wooden clapboards, or shingle, the stone structures
endured far better.
' Wittenberg, pp. 685-687
9 United States War Department. War of the Rebellion, A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies.
Washington D.C. 1880-1901. Series 1— Vol. 27 (Part I) p. 90
° Wittenberg, p.700-70 1
''United States War Department. Series I — Vol. 27 (Part I) p. 302
12 IBID p. 663
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Cool Hollow House/Emmert'sHome
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Washington County, Maryland
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As the 19th century dawned, brick was still a rather rare material used in construction, although
they could be found. "When 18th century brick farmhouses do occur they are distinguished by
the presence of water tables, Flemish bond facades and common bond secondary walls with three
or four courses of stretcher rows to each header row. Much more common among mid -Maryland
brick farmhouses are those from the 1820-1900 period."13
The evolution of the Washington County farmhouse began with the Germanic influences of the
first settlers. These dwellings composed of a plan with a central chimney, and several rooms
clustered around it. The houses could be either one or two stories high. After the arrival of the
British settlers a more formal hall and parlor plan was introduced with interior or exterior
chimneys. Although the dwelling came in many forms the most common was a three or five bay
plan with a side wing or rear "ell". Usually the "ell" contained the kitchen and perhaps in the
wealthier homes, quarters for the domestic help.14
Cool Hollow House is an elegant example of a Washington County vernacular adaption of the
Federal/Greek Revival style with a modified Georgian floorplan. Other area farmhouses built
through the mid -19th century would commonly adapt Greek Revival features into their design
and plan, however Cool Hollow House stands out as a rather elegant example with refined details
applied. The heavy wooden lintels with corner blocks, temple form porch with heavy pediment,
and deep cornice, are examples of such details. The design elements and construction methods
of Cool Hollow House put the dwelling into the later part of the first quarter, or very early part of
second quarter of the 19th century. The house exhibits characteristics of a transitional
Federal/Greek Revival styles, leaning heavier to the latter. It is appropriate to suggest the date of
construction c.1823, due to historic facts, newspaper articles, and early crudely cut machine
made nails with irregular handmade heads found during restoration, that date the house from the
1790's-1820's.ts Similar to Cool Hollow House, in style and construction, are the Sherrick
House (MIHP #WA -II -334), built in 1834 near Sharpsburg, and Greystone Manor (WA -HAG -
093) c.1835. These dwellings, like Cool Hollow House, are more formal farmhouses with five
bays providing a symmetrical, central entrance and center stair hall. The dwellings respectively
also retain prominent Greek Revival features including the prominent Greek -styled portico,
similarly stylized interior mantels, moldings, and stairway.
13 Ditto Knolls, WA -II -093, MIIiP docmnentation, 1978. c.1790-1810 is a good example of an early Washington County brick
farmhouse in a transitional Georgian/Federal taste.
14 Paula S. Reed & Assoc, "Mid -Maryland: An Agricultural History and Historic Context," draft, Frederick, MD: Catoctin Center for
Regional Studies, 2006, Chapter 5.
IS Nelson, L. (November 1968). Nail Chronology as an Aid to Dating Old Buildings: American Association for State and Local
History Technical leaflet 48. History News 23, No. 11, p. 6 retrieved from
http://files.umwblogs.org/b logs. dir/7608/files/nail_chronology.pdf
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Geological/Archeological Context
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Cool Hollow House/Emmert'sHome
(WA -II -195)
Name of Property
Washington County, Maryland
County and State
Caves are not as common in Maryland as they are in other states such as Virginia. Finding them
in the state border is somewhat of a rarity. The first discovery and study of caves began in the
mid -18th Century. "While it's perfectly true that Maryland is not exactly vying for underground
prominence with, say, our neighbor the Commonwealth of Virginia, with its 2,000 -plus caves, or
Alabama, with over 1,000 caves catalogued, the Maryland cave picture is not quite what the wits
occasionally imply. Cave studies here have come a long way since their inauspicious beginnings
in the mid -18th Century, when Joseph Spangenberg made reference in Moravian Journals to a
cave believed to have been the one now known as Busheys Cavern. This same cave, then called
"Hughes' Cave," was one of two listed for Maryland in Dr. Louis Feuchtwanger's 1859 Treatise
on Gems. A Maryland cave attained a considerable measure of scientific stature in the very early
years of the 20th Century when the great American paleontologist, James William Gidley, began
his extensive excavations in the Pleistocene deposits of the Bone Cave near Cumberland. It
remains today one of the finest such fossil discoveries ever made." i6
By the end of the second quarter of the 20th Century the number of registered caves on the
Maryland State list was still only five, as recorded by Robert Morgan in his "Partial Index to All
the Known Caves of the World".
hi 1950 Bill Davies published "The Caves of Maryland, Bulletin 7 of the Maryland Department
of Geology, Mines and Water Resources." Davies' survey, reprinted with an appendix in 1952,
contained general comments on cave science, and descriptions of some 54 caves as they were
known at that time. A decade later, members of the Baltimore Grotto (chapter) of the National
Speleological Society, responding to a need for up-to-date information on local caves, organized
the Maryland Cave Survey. Several workers added considerably to our knowledge of the state's
underground before this initial Survey became inactive. Periodic reports on their work appeared
in publications of the National Speleological Society, notably the Baltimore Grotto News. In late
1965, Dick Franz and Dennis Slifer reactivated the Maryland Cave Survey, bringing to it both
the spelunker's zeal and the investigative depth required to make a first-rate speleological study.
Working with other members of the National Speleological Society, most of them Marylanders,
their efforts have culminated in this extensive new book on the caves of Maryland." 17
Caves around the Mid -Atlantic Region such as Luray Caverns, or Crystal Grottos, have become
a major attraction, and source of information into our Prehistoric past. "Our caves are part of the
natural heritage of America. In recent years we have become more and more aware of their
tb Franz, R.; Slifer, D. (1971). Maryland Geological Survey's Caves of Maryland, Maryland Geological Survey. pp. iii
17 mm
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aesthetic and scientific values to mankind. They are ancient phenomena. They have their own
unique geological and mineralogical formations, and are inhabited by remarkable living things
adapted to their very special environments. The evolutionary processes which have produced
caves and their marvels required a great investment of the world's iv time. Like any other aspect
of our natural heritage, they should be treated with intelligence and responsibility. Unfortunately,
though, as is the case with much of our environment we are both loving and vandalizing many of
them to death. Man had developed the questionable ability to destroy many of the inexorable
works of eons. And so, it must be uppermost in the minds of those who read this book and use its
information for whatever purposes, that all who enter the underground are privileged visitors.
That caves, if they are to survive as living museums, laboratories, nature preserves, challenges,
or just plain curiosities, must be treated with all the respect due their fragile grandeur and
inestimable value."18
The Cool Hollow Well is one of these finds. It can be surmised that while digging the well
during early settlement, they broke through the karst terrain into an underground formation with
heavy water flow. More than a century after the discovery, the well had gone dry, and a partial
collapse of the stone wall near the bottom revealed once again the entrance to the cave.
"Cool Hollow Well Washington County, Funkstown Quadrangle Location: C 5/1/3 Elevation:
440. At the base of a 35 foot man made well, in the front yard of Mr. Long's "Cool Hollow
House", near Funkstown, there is a low passage which trends southwest for at least 20 feet. The
passage was exposed by a partial collapse of the rock lining the well. It would require digging in
order to enter but a mass of loose rock directly overhead makes this unwise. Definite solutional
pockets were observed on the ceiling. The cave is in the Elbrook Limestone." 19
Commerce Context
Settlement of the Western Maryland was delayed from the rest of the state due to the lack of
adequate roadways that led to the frontier. It began in the beginning part of the 18th century, and
picked up considerably in the later part. The history of industry in western Maryland is centered
almost exclusively in what is now Washington County. In 1732 Lord Baltimore announced that
his vast land holdings in Western Maryland, were open for settlement. Early settlers were
mainly English and German and took to farming.
Transportation challenges in the region meant that it was difficult for most farmers to find places
to have their wheat ground. This resulted in gristmills popping up on virtually every stream in
'8mm
19 Franz, R.; Slifer, D. (1971). Maryland Geological Survey's Caves of Maryland, Maryland Geological Survey. pp. 72-73.
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Cool Hollow House/Emmert'sHome
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Washington County, Maryland
County and State
Washington County that provided enough waterpower to run a mill.20 Narrower than the
Monocacy and Concocheague Rivers, Antietam Creek was easier to build and operate mills on
and quickly became populated with such mills21. There were so many mills in fact, that lawsuits
often ensued when water rights and usage came into question22.
Early mills were run on a custom basis, however around the mid -18th century a second type of
operation began to emerge: the merchant mill. These mills were market -oriented and shipped
their products to Baltimore. The merchant mill became the bedrock of industry in eastern
Washington County. While most were grist and saw mills, there was also fulling and dying,
gunpowder, and distillery mills.
Iron furnaces and forges was another major industry. The most famous of these businesses were
the Mt. Aetna Iron Furnace and the Antietam Forge and Mill, both near the Potomac River near
Virginia along the Antietam Creek. "The rise of the iron industry in Washington County is
largely attributable to the Hughes family, which erected at least four forges in Washington
County, Maryland and neighboring Franklin County, Pennsylvania. These forges and furnaces
were run largely with slave and indentured labor, and played an important role in the
Revolutionary War as manufacturers of canon for the Continental Army." 23
Transportation of goods during the 18th and early 19th century in the Washington County area
was difficult because of under -developed roads. Goods would need to travel through the steep
and narrow pass of Turner's Gap to get to Frederick. From Frederick, merchant roads of better
quality led east to Baltimore and south to Georgetown. Although Maryland legislation
recognized and appropriated funding for improvements to Turner's Gap as early as 177424, it was
still a difficult trip for merchant wagons until the 1810's.
In 1811, merchants along the Antietam Creek approached the Potomac Company, which had
begun work on the Potomac and Monocacy Rivers in 1784, to discuss making the creek
navigable by boat from the Pennsylvania line to the Potomac River. This would aid easy and
timely transport of goods south to Georgetown and Alexandria. The Potomac Company's
assessment called for the construction of 21 locks and the conversion of 19 millraces into boat
canals with an initial cost estimate of $20,000. In 1812, farmers and merchants along the
Antietam Creek agreed to loan the Potomac Company over $20,000 which would be repaid by
20Chidester, R. C. (2004). A Historic Context for the Archaeology of Industrial Labor in the State of Maryland. On file in the
Department of Anthropology, University of Maryland, College Park
2' Guzy, D. (2003) Maryland Historical Magazine Vol. 98, No. 3 (FALL 2003) p. 282
22 Stonebraker, p.16
23 Chidester, R. C. (2004).
24 Report on the Highways of Maryland (1899). Maryland Geological Survey Commission pp. 143-144
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Cool I-Iallow House/Emmert'sHome
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Washington County, Maryland
County and State
future toll revenue. By 1813, construction of 10 locks along the Antietam Creek had begun.
Immediately encountering labor and financial issues, the project was slow in progression and
eventually suspended in 1814. In 1815, the Potomac Company attempted to revive the project in
part between Hagerstown and the Potomac River but failed.25 Since transporting goods by water
wasn't possible, there was a renewed emphasis on road improvements.
In 1822, work on the turnpike between Hagerstown and Boonsboro had begun. The completion
of this ten mile stretch "finished the line of travel from the seaboard to the west, through the
valley so long isolated."26 When it was completed in 1824, it was the first macadamized road in
the United States and established the standard of roads moving forward throughout the nation.
Shortly after the road's opening, Mrs. Royall, of Baltimore, accounts her travel:
"Better horses, or a better road is not to be found in the world, than the road from
Boonsboro to Hagerstown. The road is a great curiosity, being turnpike with white stone,
broken into small regular pieces, and laid as firm as the original rock. No floor could be
more level; it was one entire smooth pavement. It appeared more like sailing or flying
rather than riding over land: not ajar nor ajolt the whole way. "27
The nominated property is one of the most recognizable buildings and locations along this
historic stretch of road. The sharp descent into the hollow, and the steep and rocky terrain of the
immediate landscape around Cool Hollow House forced the turnpike road to take a series of
perilous turns that came to be known as "Death Curve".
Resource History
The tracts of land on which the nominated property resides date back to the early division of the
area, starting in 1732 by Charles Calvert, 5th Lord Baltimore. The Macklefish, and Chancy
families first owned the area that encompassed the property during the Colonial era. These
Colonial patents were "Macklefish's Ridge" c.1738, "Chaney's Delight c.1738, "Strife" c.1740,
"Cadiz" c. 1759, "Chaney's Chance" c. 1762, and "Stull's Forest" c. 1761. Proving the
importance of this location along the Turnpike Road, is provided by the fact that only 16 of the
more than 2250 patents issued in Western Maryland between 1730 and 1830, predate the patents
of "Macklefish's Ridge", and "Chaney's Delight"28.
25 Guzy, p. 295
26IIays, Helen A. (1910), The Antietam and Its Bridges. New York: G. P. Putnums Sons p.24 (retrieved from
https://archive.org/details/antietamitsbridg00haysuoft)
27 IBID. p. 25
28 http://www.whilbr.org/assets/uploads/1andpatent5wa5hc01730-1 or /ag ssets/Toads/landpatentswashco1730-1830 pdf
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Cool Hollow House/Emmert'sHome
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Washington County, Maryland
County and State
Thomas Macklefish (aka McKeefish, McElfish, Maclefish) was born December 21, 1705 in
South River Parish, Anne Arundel, MD. He was the son of David Maciclefish, the Lord Mayor
of London Town, MD from 1693 to 1711. Thomas married Susannah Chaney on January 1727
in South River Parish, Anne Arundel, MD. "Macklefish's Ridge" was granted in 1738,29
however since patents could take years to finalize, it is probable that the Macklefish family
moved to the property earlier than 1738. Thomas Macklefish also had several other pieces of
land patented lying continuously with the original tract. These patents were "Macklefish's
Luck" c. 1750, "Macklefish's Range c. 1750, and "Macklefish's Small Bit" c. 1783. Thomas
Macklefish's sons Thomas Jr. and Richard Maciclefish were living on the property as recorded in
the 1783 Maryland tax records. Both Thomas Jr. and Richard were soldiers in the Revolutionary
War, fighting for the United States. The record shows the property with about half of the land
being forest, and half being arable. By 1790, Thomas Maciclefish Jr. was listed in the census
with a household of 10, including two slaves. It is probable that the dwelling the Macklefish
family resided in was built is the same spot where the current residence sits since no other
foundations can be located. Both Richard and Thomas resided on the property until around
1798, when they relocated to Pennsylvania. 30
The farm grew even larger as it was assembled by Matthias Springer by purchasing pieces of the
aforementioned tracts between the years of 1793 and 1802. Matthias Springer and family lived
on the property in 1798 when other prominent land owners of the time published a statement in
the local newspaper prohibiting fishing on their property.
"We the subscribers, living on the waters of the Antietam, in Washington County,
holding land there on, find that very great inconveniences arise from sundry persons
fishing in that creek- We therefore give public notice, that after the date hereof we will
not allow any person of persons to fish therein, unless liberty be first obtained. Those
who disregard this notice, will be dealt with according to the law. John Booth, Elijah
Cheney, George Powell, John Shafer, Jeremiah Chaney, Nich. Broadstone, Matthias
Springer, Nich. Frankhauser, John Smith, Joseph Chaney, Stephen Pollen, Edward
Breathed, Elizabeth South, Christian Bnckly, Jacob Sharer, John Clagett."31
The 1803 tax records for Washington County put the value of the then deceased Matthias
Springer's "Macklefish's Ridge" farm, which included 2 stills, at 311 Pounds and 18 shillings
making him one of the wealthier men in the Jerusalem Hundred. The household furnishings, etc
29mm
3o Moylan, Charles E. (1920), "The third generation ; Richard McElfresh (1724-1808), beginnings of western migration"
"Elizabeth -Town Adviser, August 16, 1798
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were valued at 124 pounds, quite a handsome sum. This leads one to assume at that point there
was a substantial dwelling of size already in existence. Again it is felt that the current home was
constructed on the foundations built by the Macklefish's in the 18th century. Springer's heirs
sold the 180 acres of land and premises in 1809 to Benjamin Emmert for about three thousand
pounds sterling.3z B For a property in the still -developing frontier was quite a bit, proving that it
was already at that time a farm that had been well developed. Benjamin Emmert, a man of
considerable wealth, was the son of Leonard Emmert, the founder of the Dunker Church in
Washington County.34
The 1810 and 1820 census shows Benjamin Emmert and family living in the property's district
and in line with neighboring land owners at that time. Also, an 1819 notice of petition to open a
road, likely now Cool Hollow Road, mentions the Emmert's residing at the property.35
Benjamin Emmert had the land re -surveyed on September 5, 1821 for a new patent "Emmett's
Home".36 Curiously enough, the name of the patent, "Emmert's Home", tells a story in itself.
After owning the property for over a decade, and himself nearly 50 years old, it is likely that the
Emmert's had constructed the current large brick dwelling by that time, and the new patent was
in honor of it. An 1824 newspaper article announcing the completion of the "Turnpike Road
between Hagerstown and Boonsborough" and the opening of the Tollgate House next to the
Emmert's home. The 1821 and 1824 are congruent with the style, and construction methods
used to build Cool Hollow House.
Around 1811, the Potomac Company proposed to build a series of locks along the Antietam to
facilitate boat navigation to the Potomac, and thus to major trading locations. Benjamin Emmert
built a dam prior to 1814 on the nominated property after the effort had begun, and proposed a
canal to circumvent "Chaney's Falls", a series of steep rapids in the creek at his property.37
Ruins of this dam can be seen fording the creek. The purpose of Emmert's dam is unclear, but
suggests it was preplanning for his later acquisition of the mill ruins from Elias Cheney, son of
Ezekiel Chaney on the west bank of the Antietam directly across from where the house sits in
1838. It is unclear at this time if Benjamin Emmett used the mill site during his ownership.
32 Washington County Deed Books liber T, folio 478-479
33 Washington County Deed Books Tiber W, folio 80
34 Henry, J. M. 1936, History of the Church of the Brethren in Maryland, p. 269
3s Hagerstown Herald and Torch Light Newspaper, October 26, 1819
36 Washington Co. Patented Certificate # 289, MSAS1208336. Maryland State Archives,
39 Guzy, D. (2003) Maryland Historical Magazine Vol. 98, No. 3 (Fall 2003)
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Benjamin Emmert died in 1851, leaving all his land holdings as well as a sum of $60,00038 to his
sole surviving child, Magdalene and his grandchildren. Upon the death of Benjamin Emmert,
"Emmert's Home" was sold to Philip Schindel, father of his son-in-law David Schindel for
$14,500, proving that at that time the property had substantial improvements. Philip in turn sold
the property to David and Magdalene in 1856, ensuring the farm stayed in the Emmert family.
The 1850 census does show them on the property in district 6, with their land value at $19,000,
while Phillip Schindel resided in Fairplay. This was a considerable sum for such a young couple,
more than half a million dollars in today's currency.
Benjamin Emmert also owned half of the famed Roxbury Mill (WA -II -134), which was one of
the largest distilleries of its day and dates to the 18th century. According to the extensive wills
ofBenjamin amin Emmert, considerable money was owed to him for the crop of wheat and rye, the
materials used to make whiskey.39 Emmert farmed these crops on the nominated property, and
would transport the goods to Roxbury. Roxbury Mill was less than a mile downstream from
"Emmert's Home/Cool Hollow House", and a minor road shown on old maps links the property
to it running along the west bank of the Antietam Creek via a fording place on the nominated
property (Figure 2). While the mill itself was sold to the Rowland family in 185140, David and
Magdalene became owners of the extensive acreage around it after Benjamin's death.
The prosperity of David Schindel and his wife Magdalene grew considerably in the next few
years. By 1860, David and Magdalene Schindel's "Cool Hollow" was listed on the census as
being valued at $35,000 dollars, over one million today, making it one of the more valuable
farms in the county. David Schindel was listed as a farmer on the 1860 census. Three
generations of the prominent Benjamin Emmert family would own the property from 1809-1910,
over a century.
The property sits on a prominent curve along the National Road between Boonsboro and
Hagerstown known infamously as "Death Curve" 41. Previously known as the Boonsboro and
Hagerstown Turnpike and Bank Road, the road was one of Maryland's main through routes prior
to 1760 that connected Hagerstown to Frederick via Turner's Gap 42. The 10 mile stretch
between Funkstown and Boonsboro on which the property sits was the first paved road in the
United States. This proves that the route along which the nominated property sits has in fact
38 Washington County Administration Bonds 1842-1856 Vol. F, p. 390
39 Washington County Will Book Vol. E -F pp. 119-120
40 Washington County List of Sales 1853-1857 Vol T. p. 443
41 Greene, J. E. July 7, 2002., Alt. 40 Accident Kills Two, The Herald Mail
42r Maryland Geological Survey, 1899; Volume 3, Plate 14 Original Source: University of Alabama Map Library
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been an important thoroughfare for at least 260 years. This road, was already well -travelled by
1760, predates the birth of our nation by more than two decades.
The United States Civil War was arguably the most violent and divisive time in our nation's
history. Cool Hollow House witnessed this first hand during the days of July 8-12, 1863 as
General Robert E. Lee retreated from their defeat at Gettysburg. As Lee prepared to ford the
Potomac River at Williamsport, MD just a few miles to the west, the swollen river provided a
challenge. The construction of new means of crossing would require several days. Lee
instructed his Generals to set up a line of defense stretching several miles from Williamsport past
Funkstown. Union and Confederate forces would battle many times over the next days, mainly
along the National Road between Funkstown and Boonsboro.
In the years after the Civil War, Cool Hollow House was sold to David and Magdalene
Schindel's son Benjamin and his wife Julia in 1878 for a sum of $12,000. Over the next century,
while the nominated property shrank in acreage due to several subdivisions of the old patents,
Cool Hollow House was extremely fortunate to have had many responsible stewards. By the
1950's the property was at its current 6.92 acres. In the late 1970's the notable author and
illustrator of children's books Julia Nordell owned and lived at the property. Cool Hollow House
stands as a fine, restrained example of early 19`i' century Federal/Greek Revival architecture in
Mid -Maryland. Built by one of the most prominent and influential families of this part of the
state. The property remains largely unchanged since its construction nearly 200 years ago.
Beyond the architecture, the house proudly guards over land that played host to some of the most
important pieces of our nation's history, the westward expansion, early manufacturing, and the
Civil War.
NPS Form 10-900-a
(Expires 5-31-2012)
United States Department of the Interior
National Park Service
National Register of Historic Places
Continuation Sheet
Section 9 Page 1
Major Bibliographical References:
Cool Hollow House (MIHP # WA -II -195
Cool Hollow Culvert (WA -II -131),
Tollgate House (WA -II -177)
Frame House and Stone Barn (WA -II -206)
Hillside Lake Farm (WA -I-420)
Ditto Knolls (WA -II -093)
Sherrick House (MIHP #WA -II -334)
Greystone Manor (WA -HAG -093)
OMB Approval No. 1024-0018
Cool Hollow House (WA -II -195)
Name of Property
Washington County, Maryland
County and State
Scharf, J. Thomas. History of Western Maryland. (Baltimore: 1882), reprint Regional Publishing Co., 1969.
United States War Department. War of the Rebellion, A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and
Confederate Armies. Volume 128. WashingtonD.C. 1880-1901.
North and South Vol. 2, No. 6, August 1999.
Brown, Kent Masterson. Lee, Logistics and the Pennsylvania Campaign. Retreat from Gettysburg. University of
North Carolina Press, 2005.
Moore, Robert H., II. The Chew's Ashby Shoemaker's Lynchburg, and the Newton Artillery. H.E. Howard,
Lynchburg, Va. 1995.
Schildt, John W. Roads from Gettysburg. Burd Street Press, 1979
NPS Form 10-900-a
(Expires 5-31-2012)
United States Department of the Interior
National Park Service
National Register of Historic Places
Continuation Sheet
Section 9 Page 2
OMB Approval No. 1024-0018
Cool Hollow House (WA -II -195)
Name of Property
Washington County, Maryland
County and State
Wittenberg, Eric J., Petruzzi, J. David., Nugent, Mike. One Continuous Fight, The Retreat from Gettysburg and
the Pursuit of Lee's Army of Northern Virginia, July4-14, 1863. Savas Beatie, New York and California, 2008
Zeller, Paul G. The Second Vermont Volunteer Infantry Regiment, 1861-1865, McFarland and Company, North
Carolina, 2009.
Washington County Estate and Marriage Records, Washington County Courthouse, Hagerstown, MD.
Washington County Land Records, http://tndlandrec.net.
Cool Hollow House/Emmett's Home
(WA -II -195) Washington County, Maryland
Name of Property County and State
10. Geographical Data
Acreage of Property 6.92 acres
UTM References
(Place additional UTM references on a continuation sheet)
11 III I 11
Zone Easting Northing
21 III I 11
Verbal Boundary Description
(Describe the boundaries of the property on a continuation sheet)
Boundary Justification
(Explain why the boundaries were selected on a continuation sheet)
11. Form Prepared By
31 III I 11
Zone Easting Northing
41 III I 11 1
❑ See continuation sheet
name/title Thomas Freeman and Benjamin Tinsley/ Owners
Organization N/A date March 9, 2017
street & number 9302 Old National Pike
telephone N/A
city or town Hagerstown state MD zip code 21740
Additional Documentation
Submit the following items with the completed form:
Continuation Sheets
Maps
A USGS map (7.5 or 15 minute series) indicating the property's location.
A Sketch map for historic districts and properties having large acreage or numerous resources.
Photographs
Representative black and white photographs of the property.
Additional Items
(Check with the SHPO or FPO for any additional items)
Property Owner
this Item at the request of SHPO or FPO)
Name Thomas A. Freeman
street & number 9302 Old National Pike telephone 703-606-6422
city or town Hagerstown state MD zip code 21740
Paperwork Reduction Statement: This information is being collected for applications to the National Register of Historic Places to nominate
properties for listing or determine eligibility for listing, to list properties, and to amend existing listings. Response to this request is required to obtain a
benefit in accordance with the National Historic Preservation Act, as amended (16 U.S.C. 470 et. sea.).
Estimated Burden Statement: Public reporting burden for this form is estimated to average 18.1 hours per response including the time for reviewing
instructions, gathering and maintaining data, and completing and reviewing the form. Direct comments regarding this burden estimate or any aspect of
this form to the Chief, Administrative Services Division, National Park Service, P.O. Box 37127, Washington, DC 20013-7127; and the Office of
Management and Budget, Paperwork Reductions Project (1024-0018), Washington, DC 20503.
NPS Form 10-900-a
(Expires 5-31-2012)
United States Department of the Interior
National Park Service
National Register of Historic Places
Continuation Sheet
Section 10 Page 1
Verbal Boundary Description:
OMB Approval No. 1024-0018
Cool Hollow House/Emmett's Home
Name of Property
Washington County, Maryland
County and State
The boundaries of the nominated property are recorded among the Land Records of Washington
County, Maryland in Liber 5018, folio 0072, and further shown as Parcel 1 on Washington
County Tax Map 63.
Boundary Justification:
The nominated property, 6.92 acres, encompasses the remnant of the acreage historically
associated with the resource, including the historic house, period dependencies, large domestic
yard, 18th century mill site, and well/cave formation.
NPS Form 10-900-a
(Expires 5-31-2012)
United States Department of the Interior
National Park Service
National Register of Historic Places
Continuation Sheet
Section 10 Page 2
OMB Approval No. 1024-0018
Cool Hollow House/Emmett's Home
(WA -II -195)
Name of Property
Washington County, Maryland
County and State
Title
Map of the State of Maryland laid down from an actual survey of all the principal waters, public
roads, and divisions of the counties therein; describing the situation of the cities, towns, villages,
houses of worship and other public buildings, furnaces, forges, mills, and other remarkable
places; and of the Federal Territory; as also a sketch of the State of Delaware shewing the
probable connexion of the Chesapeake and Delaware Bays.
Contributor Names
Griffith, Dennis.
Thackara, James, 1767-1848.
Valiance, J. (John), 1770-1823.
Created / Published
Philadelphia, J. Valiance, 1795.
NPS Form 10-900-a
(Expires 5-31-2012)
United States Department of the Interior
National Park Service
National Register of Historic Places
Continuation Sheet
Section 10 Page 3
FIGURE 2
OMB Approval No. 1024-0018
Cool Hollow House/Emmert's Home
(WA -II -195)
Name of Property
Washington County, Maryland
County and State
Title
Map of the vicinity of Hagerstown, Funkstown, Williamsport, and Falling Waters, Maryland
Contributor Names
United States. Army. Corps of Engineers
Created / Published
Published by the authority of the Hon. The Secretary of War. Office of the Chief of Enginners,
U.S. Army, 1879
Note: was published after war to show the patterns of Retreat from Gettysburg.
NPS Form 10-900-a
(Expires 5-31-2012)
United States Department of the Interior
National Park Service
National Register of Historic Places
Continuation Sheet
Section 10 Page 4
FIGURE 3
Title
A map of Washington Co., Maryland. Exhibiting the farms, election districts, towns, villages, roads,
etc., etc.:
Contributor Names
Taggart, Thomas, Downin, S. S.
Created / Published
[S.I.], L.McKee and C.G. Robertson, 1859.
Library of Congress Geography and Map Division Washington, D.C. 20540-4650 dcu
OMB Approval No. 1024-0018
Cool Hollow House/Emmett's Home
(WA -II -195)
Name of Property
Washington County, Maryland
County and State
NPS Form 10-900-a
(Expires 5-31-2012)
United States Department of the Interior
National Park Service
OMB Approval No. 1024-0018
National Register of Historic Places Cool Hollow House/Emmert'SHome
g (WA -II -195)
Continuation Sheet Name of Property
Section 10 Page 5
FIGURE 4
Plat Map
Tax Map 63, Election District 6, Parcel No. I
Cool Hollow House, WA -II -195
Washington County, Maryland
County and State
SCALE. IS LtlD•
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NPS Form 10-900-a
(Expires 5-31-2012)
United States Department of the Interior
National Park Service
National Register of Historic Places
Continuation Sheet
Section 10 Page 6
FIGURE 5
OMB Approval No. 1024-0018
Cool Hollow House/Emmert's Home
(WA -II -195)
Name of Property
Washington County, Maryland
County and State
Cool Hollow House (WA -II -195) First Floor Plan
NPS Form 10-900-a
(Expires 5-31-2012)
United States Department of the Interior
National Park Service
National Register of Historic Places
Continuation Sheet
Section 10 Page 7
FIGURE 6
OMB Approval No. 1024-0018
Cool Hollow House/Emmert's Home
(WA -II -195)
Name of Property
Washington County, Maryland
County and State
Cool Hollow House (WA -II -195) Second Floor Plan
NPS Form 10-900-a
(Expires 5-31-2012)
United States Department of the Interior
National Park Service
National Register of Historic Places
Continuation Sheet
Section PHOTO Page 1
Index to Photographs
OMB Approval No. 1024-0018
WA -II -195
Cool Hollow House/Emmert's Home
Name of Property
Washington County, MD
County and State
The following information applies to all photographs which accompany this documentation:
WA -II -195
Cool Hollow House
Washington County, Maryland
Photographer: Thomas A. Freeman, Owner
Date taken: October 6, 2016
Digital Files located at residence.
Photo captions:
NPS Form 10-900-a
(Expires 5-31-2012)
United States Department of the Interior
National Park Service
National Register of Historic Places
Continuation Sheet
Section PHOTO Page 2
OMB Approval No. 1024-0018
WA -l1-195
Cool Hollow House/Emmert's Home
Name of Property
Washington County, MD
County and State
MD WASHINGTONCOUNTY COOLHOLLOWI-IOUSE 0001.JPEG
West View, East elevation
NPS Form 10-900-a
(Expires 5-31-2012)
United States Department of the Interior
National Park Service
National Register of Historic Places
Continuation Sheet
Section PHOTO Page 3
OMB Approval No. 1024-0018
WA -11-195
Cool Hollow House/Emmert's Home
Name of Property
Washington County, MD
County and State
MD_WASHINGTONC OUNTY_COOLHOLLO WHOUSE_0002. JPEG
North-West View, East elevation
NPS Form 10-900-a
(Expires 5-31-2012)
United States Department of the Interior
National Park Service
National Register of Historic Places
Continuation Sheet
Section PHOTO Page 4
OMB Approval No. 1024-0018
WA -II -195
Cool Hollow House/Emmert's Home
Name of Property
Washington County, MD
County and State
MD WASHINGTONCOUNTY_COOLHOLLOWHOUSE 0003.JPEG
North View, South elevation
NPS Form 10-900-a
(Expires 5-31-2012)
United States Department of the Interior
National Park Service
National Register of Historic Places
Continuation Sheet
OMB Approval No. 1024-0018
WA -II -195
Cool Hollow House/Emmert's Home
Name of Property
Washington County, MD
Section PHOTO Page 5 County and State
MDWASHINGTONCOUNTY_COOLHOLLO WHOUSE_0004.JPEG
South View, North elevation
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NPS Form 10-900-a
(Expires 5-31-2012)
United States Department of the Interior
National Park Service
National Register of Historic Places
Continuation Sheet
Section PHOTO Page 7
OMB Approval No, 1024-0018
WA-lI-195
Cool Hollow House/Emmert's Home
Name of Property
Washington County, MD
County and State
MD WASHINGTONCOUNTY_COOLHOLLOWHOUSE_0006.JPEG
Setting View, Southeast from lawn toward mill site.
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NPS Form 10-900-a
(Expires 5-31-2012)
United States Department of the Interior
National Park Service
National Register of Historic Places
Continuation Sheet
Section PHOTO Page 10
OMB Approval No. 1024-0018
WA -II -195
Cool Hollow House/Emmert's Home
Name of Property
Washington County, MD
County and State
MD WASHINGTONCOUNTY COOLHOLLOWHOUSE_0009.JPEG
Mill foundation at creek, and mill race, North.
NPS Form 10-900-a
(Expires 5-31-2012)
United States Department of the Interior
National Park Service
National Register of Historic Places
Continuation Sheet
OMB Approval No. 1024-0018
WA -11-195
Cool Hollow House/Emmett's Home
Name of Property
Washington County, MD
Section PHOTO Page 11 County and State
MD WASHINGTONCOUNTY_COOLHOLLOWHOUSE_00010.JPEG
Setting View, Northeast from mill site.
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NPS Form 10-900-a
(Expires 5-31-2012)
United States Department of the Interior
National Park Service
National Register of Historic Places
Continuation Sheet
Section PHOTO Page 13
OMB Approval No. 1024-0018
WA -II -195
Cool Hollow House/Emmert's Home
Name of Property
Washington County, MD
County and State
MDWASHINGTONCOUNTY COOLHOLLOWHOUSE 00012.JPEG
Stone spring house, West from house toward Antietam Creels.
NPS Form 10-900-a
(Expires 5-31-2012)
United States Department of the Interior
National Park Service
National Register of Historic Places
Continuation Sheet
Section PHOTO Page 14
OMB Approval No. 1024-0018
WA -II -195
Cool Hollow House/Emmert's Home
Name of Property
Washington County, MD
County and State
MD WASHINGTONCOUNTY COOLHOLLOWHOUSE 00013.JPEG
Stone spring house/mid-20th Century addition, North.
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NPS Form 10-900-a
(Expires 5-31-2012)
United States Department of the Interior
National Park Service
National Register of Historic Places
Continuation Sheet
Section PHOTO Page 18
OMB Approval No. 1024-0018
WA -II -195
Cool Hollow House/Emmett's I-Iome
Name of Property
Washington County, MD
County and State
MD WASHINGTONCOUNTY COOLHOLLOWHOUSE 00017.JPEG
Front door, west view, east elevation.
NPS Form 10-900-a
(Expires 5-31-2012)
United States Department of the Interior
National Park Service
National Register of Historic Places
Continuation Sheet
OMB Approval No. 1024-0018
WA -11-195
Cool Hollow House/Emmert's Home
Name of Property
Washington County, NM
Section PHOTO Page 19 County and State
MID_WASHINGTONCOUNTY_COOLHOLLOWHOUSE 00018.JPEG
First floor stair and entrance hall, West.
NPS Form 10-900-a
(Expires 5-31-2012)
United States Department of the Interior
National Park Service
National Register of Historic Places
Continuation Sheet
Section PHOTO Page 20
OMB Approval No. 1024-0018
WA -II -195
Cool Hollow House/Emmett's Home
Name of Property
Washington County, MD
County and State
MD WASHINGTONCOUNTY COOLHOLLOWHOUSE_00019.JPEG
First floor, stair and entrance hall, East.
NIPS Form 10-900-a
(Expires 5-31-2012)
United States Department of the Interior
National Park Service
National Register of Historic Places
Continuation Sheet
Section PHOTO Page 21
OMB Approval No. 1024-0018
WA -II -195
Cool Hollow House/Emmett's Home
Name of Property
Washington County, MD
County and State
MD_WASHINGTONCOUNTY_COOLHOLLO WHOUSE_00020.JPEG
First floor, large parlor, east.
NPS Form 10-900-a
(Expires 5-31-2012)
United States Department of the Interior
National Park Service
National Register of Historic Places
Continuation Sheet
Section PHOTO Page 22
OMB Approval No. 1024-0018
WA -II -195
Cool Hollow 1-Iouse/Emmert's Home
Name of Property
Washington County, MD
County and State
MD WASHINGTONCOUNTYCOOLHOLLOWHOUSE 00021.JPEG
First floor, large parlor, west.
NPS Form 10-900-a
(Expires 5-31-2012)
United States Department of the Interior
National Park Service
National Register of Historic Places
Continuation Sheet
OMB Approval No. 1024-0018
WA -II -195
Cool Hollow House/Emmert's Home
Name of Property
Washington County, MD
Section PHOTO Page 23 County and State
MD WASHINGTONCOUNTY COOLHOLLOWHOUSE00022.JPEG
First floor, library (original kitchen with service fireplace), North.
NPS Form 10-900-a
(Expires 5-31-2012)
United States Department of the Interior
National Park Service
National Register of Historic Places
Continuation Sheet
Section PHOTO Page 24
OMB Approval No. 1024-0018
WA -II -195
Cool Hollow House/Emmett's Home
Name of Property
Washington County, MD
County and State
MD WASHINGTONCOUNTY COOLHOLLOWHOUSE00023.JPEG
First floor, kitchen, south.
NPS Form 10-900-a
(Expires 5-31-2012)
United States Department of the Interior
National Park Service
National Register of Historic Places
Continuation Sheet
Section PHOTO Page 25
OMB Approval No. 1024-0018
WA -II -195
Cool Hollow House/Emmett's Home
Name of Property
Washington County, MD
County and State
MD_WASFIINGTONC OUNTY_COOLHOLLO W HOUSE_00024. JPEG
First floor, kitchen, west.
NPS Form 10-900-a
(Expires 5-31-2012)
United States Department of the Interior
National Park Service
National Register of Historic Places
Continuation Sheet
Section PHOTO Page 26
OMB Approval No. 1024-0018
WA -l1-195
Cool Hollow House/Emmert's Home
Name of Property
Washington County, MD
County and State
MD WASHINGTONCOUNTY COOLHOLLOWHOUSE_00025JPEG
First floor, kitchen, east,
NATIONAL REGISTER
BULLETIN
Technical information on the the National Register of Historic Places:
survey, evaluation, registration, and preservation of cultural resources
U.S. Department of the Interior
National Park Service
Cultural Resources
National Register, History and Education
How to Apply the National Register
Criteria for Evaluation
The mission of the Department of the Interior is to protect and provide
access to our Nation's natural and cultural heritage and honor our trust
responsibilities to tribes.
The National Park Service preserves unimpaired the natural and cultural
resources and values of the National Park System for the enjoyment, education,
and inspiration of this and future generations. The Park Service cooperates
with partners to extend the benefits of natural and cultural resource
conservation and outdoor recreation throughout this country and the world.
This material is partially based upon work conducted under a cooperative
agreement with the National Conference of State Historic Preservation Officers
and the U.S. Department of the Interior.
Date of publication: 1990; revised 1991, 1995, 1997. Revised for Internet 1995
Cover
(Top Left) Criterion B - Frederick Douglass Home, Washington, D.C. From 1877-
1899, this was the home of Frederick Douglass, the former slave who rose to become a
prominent author, abolitionist, editor, orator, and diplomat. (Walter Smalling, Jr.)
(Top Right) Criterion D - Francis Canyon Ruin, Blanco vicinity, Rio Arriba
County, New Mexico. A fortified village site composed of 40 masonry -walled rooms
arranged in a cluster of four house blocks. Constructed ca. 1716-1742 for protection
against raiding Utes and Comanches, the site has information potential related to Na-
vajo, Pueblo, and Spanish cultures. (Jon Samuelson)
(Bottom Left) Criterion C - Bridge in Cherrytree Township, Venago County,
Pennsylvania. Built in 1882, this Pratt through truss bridge is significant for engi-
neering as a well preserved example of a type of bridge frequently used in northwestern
Pennsylvania in the late 19th century. (Pennsylvania Department of Transportation)
(Bottom Right) Criterion A - Main StreetlMarket Square Historic District,
Houston, Harris County, Texas. Until well into the 20th century this district marked
the bounds of public and business life in Houston. Constructed between the 1870s and
1920s, the district includes Houston's municipal and county buildings, and served as
the city's wholesale, retail, and financial center. (Paul Hester)
PREFACE
Preserving historic properties as
important reflections of our American
heritage became a national policy
through passage of the Antiquities
Act of 1906, the Historic Sites Act of
1935, and the National Historic Pres-
ervation Act of 1966, as amended.
The Historic Sites Act authorized the
Secretary of the Interior to identify
and recognize properties of national
significance (National Historic Land-
marks) in United States history and
archeology. The National Historic
Preservation Act of 1966 authorized
the Secretary to expand this recogni-
tion to properties of local and State
significance in American history, ar-
chitecture, archeology, engineering,
and culture, and worthy of preserva-
tion. The National Register of His-
toric Places is the official list of these
recognized properties, and is main-
tained and expanded by the National
Park Service on behalf of the Secretary
of the Interionr
The National Register of Historic
Places documents the appearance and
importance of districts, sites, build-
ings, structures, and objects signifi-
cant in our prehistory and history.
These properties represent the major
patterns of our shared local, State,
and national experience. To guide the
selection of properties included in the
National Register, the National Park
Service has developed the National
Register Criteria for Evaluation.
These criteria are standards by which
every property that is nominated to
the National Register is judged. In
addition, the National Park Service
has developed criteria for the recogni-
tion of nationally significant proper-
ties, which are designated National
Historic Landmarks and prehistoric
and historic units of the National Park
System. Both these sets of criteria
were developed to be consistent with
the Secretary of the Interior's Stan-
dards and Guidelines for Archeology and
Historic Preservation, which are uni-
form, national standards for preserva-
tion activities 2
This publication explains how the
National Park Service applies these
criteria in evaluating the wide range
of properties that may be significant
in local, State, and national history.
It should be used by anyone who
must decide if a particular property
qualifies for the National Register of
Historic Places.
Listing properties in the National
Register is an important step in a na-
tionwide preservation process. The
responsibility for the identification,
initial evaluation, nomination, and
treatment of historic resources lies
with private individuals, State historic
preservation offices, and Federal pres-
ervation offices, local governments,
and Indian tribes. The final evalua-
tion and listing of properties in the
National Register is the responsibility
of the Keeper of the National Register.
This bulletin was prepared by staff
of the National Register Branch, Inter-
agency Resources Division, National
Park Service, with the assistance of the
History Division. It was originally is-
sued in draft form in 1982. The draft
was revised into final form by Patrick
W. Andrus, Historian, National Regis-
ter, and edited by Rebecca H.
Shrimpton, Consulting Historian.
Beth L. Savage, National Register
and Sarah Dillard Pope, National Reg-
ister, NCSHPO coordinated the latest
revision of this bulletin. Antionette J.
Lee, Tanya Gossett, and Kira Badamo
coordinated earlier revisions.
'Properties listed in the National Register receive limited Federal protection and certain benefits. For more information concerning the effects of
listing, and how the National Register may be used by the general public and Certified Local Governments, as well as by local, state, and Federal
agencies, and for copies of National Register Bulletins, contact the National Park Service, National Register, 1849 C Street, NW, NC400, Washington,
D.C., 20240. Information may also be obtained by visiting the National Register Web site at www.cr.nps.gov/nr or by contacting any of the historic
preservation offices in the States and territories.
'The Secretary of the Interior's Standards and Guidelines for Archeology and Historic Preservation are found in the Federal Register, Vol. 48, No. 190
(Thursday, September 29, 1983). A copy can be obtained by writing the National Park Service, Heritage Preservation Services (at the address above).
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Preface
Introduction
II. National Register Criteria for Evaluation ..........
III. How to Use this Bulletin to Evaluate a Property ...........
IV. How to Define Categories of Historic Properties ..........
V. How to Evaluate a Property Within its Historic Context ..........................................
.......... i
UnderstandingHistoric Contexts............................................................................................................................................. 7
How to Evaluate a Property Within Its Historic Context..................................................................................................... 7
Properties Significant Within More Than on Historic Context................................................................................... 9
ComparingRelated Properties.......................................................................................................................................... 9
Local, State, and National Historic Contexts.......................................................................................................................... 9
VI. How to Identify the Type of Significance of a Property
11
CriterionB: Person...................................................................................................................................................................14
UnderstandingCriterion B.................................................................................................................................................14
ApplyingCriterion B...........................................................................................................................................................15
Significanceof the Individual..................................................................................................................................15
Associationwith the Property.................................................................................................................................
15
Comparison to Related Properties..........................................................................................................................15
Associationwith Groups..........................................................................................................................................15
Associationwith Living Persons.............................................................................................................................16
Association with Architects/Artisans....................................................................................................................16
NativeAmerican Sites...............................................................................................................................................16
CriterionC: Design/Construction......................................................................................................................................... 17
UnderstandingCriterion C.................................................................................................................................................17
ApplyingCriterion C...........................................................................................................................................................18
ii
Distinctive Characteristics of Type, Period, and Method of Construction..............................................................18
Historic Adaptation of the Original Property..............................................................................................................19
Worksof a Master.............................................................................................................................................................20
Properties Possessing High Artistic Values..................................................................................................................20
CriterionD: Information Potential........................................................................................................................................
21
UnderstandingCriterion D.................................................................................................................................................21
ApplyingCriterion D...........................................................................................................................................................
21
ArcheologicaI Sites.....................................................................................................................................................
21
Buildings, Structures, and Objects..........................................................................................................................
21
Association with Human Activity..........................................................................................................................22
Establishinga Historic Context...............................................................................................................................22
DevelopingResearch Questions..............................................................................................................................
22
Establishing the Presence of Adequate Data.........................................................................................................
23
Integrity.......................................................................................................................................................................
23
Partly Excavated or Disturbed Properties.............................................................................................................23
CompletelyExcavated Sites.....................................................................................................................................24
VII. How to Apply the Criteria Considerations.........................................................................................................................25
Introduction................................................................................................................................................................................
25
Criteria Consideration A: Religious Properties...................................................................................................................26
Understanding Criteria Consideration A......................................................................................................................26
Applying Criteria Consideration A...............................................................................................................................
26
Eligibilityfor Historic Events..................................................................................................................................26
Eligibilityfor Historic Persons.................................................................................................................................27
Eligibility for Architectural or Artistic Distinction..............................................................................................28
Eligibility for Information Potential.......................................................................................................................28
Ability to Reflect Historic Associations..................................................................................................................28
Criteria Consideration B: Moved Properties........................................................................................................................29
Understanding Criteria Consideration B......................................................................................................................
29
ApplyingCriteria Consideration B................................................................................................................................29
Eligibilityfor Architectural Value...........................................................................................................................29
Eligibility for Historic Associations........................................................................................................................30
Settingand Environment..........................................................................................................................................
30
AssociationDependent on the Site.........................................................................................................................30
PropertiesDesigned to Be Moved...........................................................................................................................31
ArtificiallyCreated Groupings................................................................................................................................31
Portionsof Properties................................................................................................................................................
31
Criteria Consideration C: Birthplaces and Graves..............................................................................................................32
UnderstandingCriteria Consideration C......................................................................................................................32
Applying Criteria Consideration C................................................................................................................................
32
Personsof Outstanding Importance.......................................................................................................................32
Last Surviving Property Associated with a Person..............................................................................................32
Eligibility for Other Associations............................................................................................................................33
CriteriaConsideration D: Cemeteries...................................................................................................................................34
Understanding Criteria Consideration D......................................................................................................................34
ApplyingCriteria Consideration D...............................................................................................................................34
Persons of Transcendent Importance.....................................................................................................................
34
Eligibilityon the Basis of Age..................................................................................................................................35
Eligibilityfor Design.................................................................................................................................................35
Eligibility for Association with Events...................................................................................................................35
Eligibility for Information Potential.......................................................................................................................35
Integrity.......................................................................................................................................................................
36
NationalCemeteries..................................................................................................................................................
36
Criteria Consideration E: Reconstructed Properties...........................................................................................................37
Understanding Criteria Consideration E......................................................................................................................37
ApplyingCriteria Consideration E................................................................................................................................37
Accuracyof the Reconstruction...............................................................................................................................37
SuitableEnvironment................................................................................................................................................
37
RestorationMaster Plans..........................................................................................................................................38
iii
LastSurviving Property of a Type...............................................................................................................................
38
Reconstructions Older than Fifty Years.......................................................................................................................
38
Criteria Consideration F: Commemorative Properties......................................................................................................
39
Understanding Criteria Consideration F..........................................................................................................................39
ApplyingCriteria Consideration F....................................................................................................................................39
Eligibilityfor Design.................................................................................................................................................
39
Eligibility for Age, Tradition, or Symbolic Value.................................................................................................40
Ineligibility as the Last Representative of an Event or Person...........................................................................
40
Criteria Consideration G: Properties that Have Achieved Significance Within the Past Fifty Years ........................41
Understanding Criteria Consideration G.........................................................................................................................
41
ApplyingCriteria Consideration G...................................................................................................................................
42
Eligibility for Exceptional Importance...................................................................................................................42
HistoricalPerspective................................................................................................................................................
42
42
National Park Service Rustic Architecture............................................................................................................
VeteransAdministration Hospitals........................................................................................................................42
Comparisonwith Related Properties.....................................................................................................................
42
WorldWar II Properties...........................................................................................................................................42
Eligibility for Information Potential.......................................................................................................................43
43
HistoricDistricts........................................................................................................................................................
Properties Over Fifty Years in Age, Under Fifty Years in Significance............................................................43
Requirement to Meet the Criteria, Regardless of Age.........................................................................................
43
VIII.
IX.
X.
XI.
Howto Evaluate the Integrity of a Property.............................................................................................................. 44
Introduction.......................................................................................................................................................................
44
44
Understanding the Aspects of Integrity
Location.................................................................................................................................................
44
Design..........................................................................................................................................................................
44
44
Setting
45
Materials......................................................................................................................................................................
45
Workmanship
45
Feeling..........................................................................................................................................................................
45
Association..................................................................................................................................................................
45
AssessingIntegrity in Properties....................................................................................................................................
Defining the Essential Physical Features...............................................................................................................46
Visibilityof the Physical Features...........................................................................................................................
46
ComparingSimilar Properties.................................................................................................................................
47
Determining the Relevant Aspects of Integrity....................................................................................................48
Summary of the National Historic Landmarks Criteria for Evaluation...............................................................50
Glossary.............................................................................................................................................................................. 53
Listof National Register Bulletins...............................................................................................................................54
iv
I. INTRODUCTION
The National Register is the
nation's inventory of historic places
and the national repository of docu-
mentation on the variety of historic
property types, significance, abun-
dance, condition, ownership, needs,
and other information. It is the begin-
ning of a national census of historic
properties. The National Register Cri-
teria for Evaluation define the scope
of the National Register of Historic
Places; they identify the range of re-
sources and kinds of significance that
will qualify properties for listing in
the National Register. The Criteria
are written broadly to recognize the
wide variety of historic properties as-
sociated with our prehistory and his-
tory.
Decisions concerning the signifi-
cance, historic integrity, documenta-
tion, and treatment of properties can
be made reliably only when the re-
source is evaluated within its historic
context. The historic context serves as
the framework within which the Na-
tional Register Criteria are applied to
specific properties or property types.
(See Part V for a brief discussion of
historic contexts. Detailed guidance
for developing and applying historic
contexts is contained in National Reg-
ister Bulletin: How to Complete the Na-
tional Register Registration Form and
National Register Bulletin: How to Com-
plete the National Register Multiple
Property Documentation Form )
The guidelines provided here are
intended to help you understand the
National Park Service's use of the Cri-
teria for Evaluation, historic contexts,
integrity, and Criteria Considerations,
and how they apply to properties un-
der consideration for listing in the
National Register. Examples are pro-
vided throughout, illustrating specific
circumstances in which properties are
and are not eligible for the National
Register. This bulletin should be used
by anyone who is:
•Preparing to nominate a property
to the National Register,
• Seeking a determination of a
property's eligibility,
• Evaluating the comparable sig-
nificance of a property to those
listed in the National Register, or
• Expecting to nominate a property
as a National Historic Landmark
in addition to nominating it to
the National Register,
This bulletin also contains a sum-
mary of the National Historic Land-
marks Criteria for Evaluation (see
Part IX). National Historic Land-
marks are those districts, sites, build-
ings, structures, and objects desig-
nated by the Secretary of the Interior
as possessing national significance in
American history, architecture, arche-
ology, engineering, and culture., Al-
though National Register documenta-
tion includes a recommendation
about whether a property is signifi-
cant at the local, State, or national
level, the only official designation of
national significance is as a result of
National Historic Landmark designa-
tion by the Secretary of the Interior,
National Monument designation by
the President of the United States, or
establishment as a unit of the National
Park System by Congress. These
properties are automatically listed in
the National Register.
II. THE NATIONAL
REGISTER CRITERIA FOR
EVALUATION
CRITERIA FOR
EVALUATION:3
The quality of significance in
American history, architecture, arche-
ology, engineering, and culture is
present in districts, sites, buildings,
structures, and objects that possess in-
tegrity of location, design, setting, ma-
terials, workmanship, feeling, and as-
sociation, and:
A. That are associated with events that
have made a significant contribu-
tion to the broad patterns of our
history; or
B. That are associated with the lives of
persons significant in our past; or
C. That embody the distinctive
characteristics of a type, period, or
method of construction, or that
represent the work of a master, or
that possess high artistic values, or
that represent a significant and
distinguishable entity whose
components may lack individual
distinction; or
D. That have yielded, or may be likely
to yield, information important in
prehistory or history.
CRITERIA
CONSIDERATIONS:
Ordinarily cemeteries, birthplaces,
or graves of historical figures, proper-
ties owned by religious institutions or
used for religious purposes, structures
that have been moved from their
original locations, reconstructed his-
toric buildings, properties primarily
commemorative in nature, and prop-
erties that have achieved significance
within the past 50 years shall not be
considered eligible for the National
Register. However, such properties
will qualify if they are integral parts of
districts that do meet the criteria or if
they fall within the following catego-
ries:
a. A religious property deriving
primary significance from architec-
tural or artistic distinction or
historical importance; or
b. A building or structure removed
from its original location but which
is significant primarily for architec-
tural value, or which is the surviv-
ing structure most importantly
associated with a historic person or
event; or
c. A birthplace or grave of a historical
figure of outstanding importance
if there is no appropriate site or
building directly associated with
his or her productive life; or
d. A cemetery which derives its
primary significance from graves
of persons of transcendent impor-
tance, from age, from distinctive
design features, or from association
with historic events; or
e. A reconstructed building when
accurately executed in a suitable
environment and presented in a
dignified manner as part of a
restoration master plan, and when
no other building or structure with
the same association has survived;
or
f. A property primarily commemora-
tive in intent if design, age, tradi-
tion, or symbolic value has in-
vested it with its own exceptional
significance; or
g. A property achieving significance
within the past 50 years if it is of
exceptional importance.
3The Criteria for Evaluation are found in the Code of Federal Regulations, Title 36, Part 60, and are reprinted herein full.
III. HOW TO USE THIS
BULLETIN TO EVALUATE A
PROPERTY
For a property to qualify for the
National Register it must meet one of
the National Register Criteria for
Evaluation by:
2.
• Being associated with an impor-
tant historic context and
• Retaining historic integrity of
those features necessary to con-
vey its significance.
Information about the property
based on physical examination and
documentary research is necessary to
evaluate a property's eligibility for the
National Register. Evaluation of a
property is most efficiently made
when following this sequence:
1. Categorize the property (Part IV).
A property must be classified as
a district, site, building, structure,
or object for inclusion in the
National Register.
Determine which prehistoric or
historic context(s) the property
represents (Part V). A property
must possess significance in
American history, architecture,
archeology, engineering, or
culture when evaluated within
the historic context of a relevant
geographic area.
3. Determine whether the property
is significant under the National
Register Criteria (Part VI). This
is done by identifying the links to
important events or persons,
design or construction features,
or information potential that
make the property important.
4. Determine if the property repre-
sents a type usually excluded from
the National Register (Part VII).
If so, determine if it meets any of
the Criteria Considerations.
5. Determine whether the property
retains integrity (Part VIII).
Evaluate the aspects of location,
design, setting, workmanship, ma-
terials, feeling, and association
that the property must retain to
convey its historic significance.
If, after completing these steps, the
property appears to qualify for the Na-
tional Register, the next step is to pre-
pare a written nomination. (Refer to
National Register Bulletin: How to
Complete the National Register Registra-
tion Form.)
IV. HOW TO DEFINE
CATEGORIES OF HISTORIC
PROPERTIES
The National Register of Historic
Places includes significant properties,
classified as buildings, sites, districts,
structures, or objects. It is not used to
list intangible values, except in so far
as they are associated with or re-
flected by historic properties. The Na-
tional Register does not list cultural
events, or skilled or talented individu-
als, as is done in some countries.
Rather, the National Register is ori-
ented to recognizing physically con-
crete properties that are relatively
fixed in location.
For purposes of National Register
nominations, small groups of proper-
ties are listed under a single category,
using the primary resource. For ex-
ample, a city hall and fountain would
be categorized by the city hall (build-
ing), a farmhouse with two outbuild-
ings would be categorized by the
farmhouse (building), and a city park
with a gazebo would be categorized
by the park (site). Properties with
large acreage or a number of re-
sources are usually considered dis-
tricts. Common sense and reason
should dictate the selection of catego-
ries.
BUILDING
A building, such as a house, barn,
church, hotel, or similar construc-
tion, is created principally to shelter
any form of human activity. "Build-
ing" may also be used to refer to a
historically and functionally related
unit, such as a courthouse and jail or
a house and barn.
Buildings eligible for the National
Register must include all of their basic
structural elements. Parts of build-
ings, such as interiors, facades, or
wings, are not eligible independent of
the rest of the existing building. The
whole building must be considered,
and its significant features must be
identified.
If a building has lost any of its basic
structural elements, it is usually con-
sidered a "ruin" and is categorized as
a site.
Examples of buildings include:
administration building
carriage house
church
city or town hall
courthouse
detached kitchen, barn, and privy
dormitory
fort
garage
hotel
house
library
mill building
office building
post office
school
social hall
shed
stable
store
theater
train station
STRUCTURE
The term "structure" is used to
distinguish from buildings those
functional constructions made usu-
ally for purposes other than creating
human shelter.
Structures nominated to the
National Register must include all of
the extant basic structural elements.
Parts of structures can not be consid-
ered eligible if the whole structure
remains. For example, a truss bridge
is composed of the metal or wooden
truss, the abutments, and supporting
piers, all of which, if extant, must be
included when considering the
property for eligibility.
If a structure has lost its historic
configuration or pattern of organiza-
tion through deterioration or demoli-
tion, it is usually considered a "ruin"
and is categorized as a site.
Examples of structures include:
aircraft
apiary
automobile
bandstand
boats and ships
bridge
cairn
canal
carousel
corncrib
dam
earthwork
fence
gazebo
grain elevator
highway
irrigation system
kiln
lighthouse
railroad grade
silo
trolley car
tunnel
windmill
OBJECT
The term "object" is used to
distinguish from buildings and
structures those constructions that
are primarily artistic in nature or are
relatively small in scale and simply
constructed. Although it may be, by
nature or design, movable, an object
is associated with a specific setting
or environment.
Small objects not designed for a
specific location are normally not
eligible. Such works include trans-
portable sculpture, furniture, and
other decorative arts that, unlike a
fixed outdoor sculpture, do not
possess association with a specific
place.
Objects should be in a setting
appropriate to their significant
historic use, roles, or character.
Objects relocated to a museum are
inappropriate for listing in the Na-
tional Register.
Examples of objects include
boundary marker
fountain
milepost
monument
scupture
statuary
SITE
A site is the location of a signifi-
cant event, a prehistoric or historic
occupation or activity, or a building
or structure, whether standing,
ruined, or vanished, where the
location itself possesses historic,
cultural, or archeological value
regardless of the value of any exist-
ing structure.
A site can possess associative
significance or information potential
or both, and can be significant under
any or all of the four criteria. A site
need not be marked by physical
remains if it is the location of a
prehistoric or historic event or pattern
of events and if no buildings, struc-
tures, or objects marked it at the time
of the events. However, when the
location of a prehistoric or historic
event cannot be conclusively deter-
mined because no other cultural
materials were present or survive,
documentation must be carefully
evaluated to determine whether the
traditionally recognized or identified
site is accurate.
A site may be a natural landmark
strongly associated with significant
prehistoric or historic events or
patterns of events, if the significance
of the natural feature is well docu-
mented through scholarly research.
Generally, though, the National
Register excludes from the definition
of "site" natural waterways or bodies
of water that served as determinants
in the location of communities or
were significant in the locality's
subsequent economic development.
While they may have been "avenues
of exploration," the features most
appropriate to document this signifi-
cance are the properties built in
association with the waterways.
Examples of sites include
battlefield
campsite
cemeteries significant for information
potential or historic association
ceremonial site
designed landscape
habitation site
natural feature (such as a rock formation)
having cultural significance
petroglyph
rock carving
rock shelter
ruins of a building or structure
shipwreck
trail
village site
DISTRICT
A district possesses a significant
concentration, linkage, or continuity
of sites, buildings, structures, or
objects united historically or aes-
thetically by plan or physical devel-
opment.
CONCENTRATION, LINKAGE, &
CONTINUITY OF FEATURES
A district derives its importance
from being a unified entity, even
though it is often composed of a wide
variety of resources. The identity of a
district results from the interrelation-
ship of its resources, which can
convey a visual sense of the overall
historic environment or be an ar-
rangement of historically or function-
ally related properties. For example, a
district can reflect one principal
activity, such as a mill or a ranch, or it
can encompass several interrelated
activities, such as an area that in-
cludes industrial, residential, or
commercial buildings, sites, struc-
tures, or objects. A district can also be
a grouping of archeological sites
related primarily by their common
components; these types of districts
often will not visually represent a
specific historic environment.
SIGNIFICANCE
A district must be significant, as
well as being an identifiable entity. It
must be important for historical,
architectural, archeological, engineer-
ing, or cultural values. Therefore,
districts that are significant will
usually meet the last portion of
Criterion C plus Criterion A, Criterion
B, other portions of Criterion C, or
Criterion D.
TYPES OF FEATURES
A district can comprise both
features that lack individual distinc-
tion and individually distinctive
features that serve as focal points. It
may even be considered eligible if all
of the components lack individual
distinction, provided that the group-
ing achieves significance as a whole
within its historic context. In either
case, the majority of the components
that add to the district's historic
character, even if they are individu-
ally undistinguished, must possess
integrity, as must the district as a
whole.
A district can contain buildings,
structures, sites, objects, or open
spaces that do not contribute to the
significance of the district. The
number of noncontributing properties
a district can contain yet still convey
its sense of time and place and
historical development depends on
how these properties affect the
district's integrity. In archeological
districts, the primary factor to be
considered is the effect of any distur-
bances on the information potential of
the district as a whole.
GEOGRAPHICAL BOUNDARIES
A district must be a definable
geographic area that can be distin-
guished from surrounding properties
by changes such as density, scale,
type, age, style of sites, buildings,
structures, and objects, or by docu-
mented differences in patterns of
historic development or associations.
It is seldom defined, however, by the
limits of current parcels of ownership,
management, or planning boundaries.
The boundaries must be based upon a
shared relationship among the
properties constituting the district.
DISCONTIGUOUS DISTRICTS
A district is usually a single geo-
graphic area of contiguous historic
properties; however, a district can
also be composed of two or more
definable significant areas separated
by nonsignificant areas. A
discontiguous district is most appro-
priate where:
• Elements are spatially discrete;
• Space between the elements is
not related to the significance of
the district; and
• Visual continuity is not a factor
in the significance.
In addition, a canal can be treated
as a discontiguous district when the
system consists of man-made sections
of canal interspersed with sections of
river navigation. For scattered
archeological properties, a
discontiguous district is appropriate
when the deposits are related to each
other through cultural affiliation,
period of use, or site type.
Ordeman-Shaw Historic District, Montgomery, Montgomery County, Alabama.
Historic districts derive their identity from the interrationship of their resources. Part
of the defining characteristics of this 19th century residential district in Montgomery,
Alabama, is found in the rhythmic pattern of the rows of decorative porches. (Frank L.
Thiermonge, 1II)
It is not appropriate to use the
discontiguous district format to
include an isolated resource or small
group of resources which were once
connected to the district, but have
since been separated either through
demolition or new construction. For
example, do not use the discontiguous
district format to nominate individual
buildings of a downtown commerical
district that have become isolated
through demolition.
Examples of districts iclude:
business districts
canal systems
groups of habitation sites
college campuses
estates and farms with large acreage!
numerous properties
industrial complexes
irrigation systems
residential areas
rural villages
transportation networks
rural historic districts
V. HOW TO EVALUATE A
PROPERTY WITHIN ITS
HISTORIC CONTEXT
UNDERSTANDING
HISTORIC
CONTEXTS
To qualify for the National Regis-
ter, a property must be significant;
that is, it must represent a significant
part of the history, architecture,
archeology, engineering, or culture of
an area, and it must have the charac-
teristics that make it a good represen-
tative of properties associated with
that aspect of the past. This section
explains how to evaluate a property
within its historic context'
The significance of a historic
property can be judged and explained
only when it is evaluated within its
historic context. Historic contexts are
those patterns or trends in history by
which a specific occurrence, property,
or site is understood and its meaning
(and ultimately its significance)
within history or prehistory is made
clear. Historians, architectural
historians, folklorists, archeologists,
and anthropologists use different
words to describe this phenomena
such as trend, pattern, theme, or
cultural affiliation, but ultimately the
concept is the same.
The concept of historic context is
not a new one; it has been fundamen-
tal to the study of history since the
18th century and, arguably, earlier
than that. Its core premise is that
resources, properties, or happenings
in history do not occur in a vacuum
but rather are part of larger trends or
patterns.
In order to decide whether a
property is significant within its
historic context, the following five
things must be determined:
• The facet of prehistory or history
of the local area, State, or the na-
tion that the property represents;
• Whether that facet of prehistory
or history is significant;
• Whether it is a type of property
that has relevance and impor-
tance in illustrating the historic
context;
• How the property illustrates that
history; and finally
• Whether the property possesses
the physical features necessary to
convey the aspect of prehistory
or history with which it is associ-
ated.
These five steps are discussed in
detail below. If the property being
evaluated does represent an impor-
tant aspect of the area's history or
prehistory and possesses the requisite
quality of integrity, then it qualifies
for the National Register.
HOW TO EVALUATE
A PROPERTY
WITHIN ITS
HISTORIC CONTEXT
Identify what the property repre-
sents: the theme(s), geographical
limits, and chronological period that
provide a perspective from which to
evaluate the property's significance.
Historic contexts are historical
patterns that can be identified through
consideration of the history of the
property and the history of the sur-
rounding area. Historic contexts may
have already been defined in your area
by the State historic preservation office,
Federal agencies, or local governments.
In accordance with the National Regis-
ter Criteria, the historic context may
relate to one of the following:
• An event, a series of events or ac-
tivities, or patterns of an area's de-
velopment (Criterion A);
• Association with the life of an im-
portant person (Criterion B);
• A building form, architectural style,
engineering technique, or artistic
values, based on a stage of physical
development, or the use of a mate-
rial or method of construction that
shaped the historic identity of an
area (Criterion C); or
• A research topic (Criterion D).
' For a complete discussion of historic contexts, see National Register Bulletin: Guidelines for Completing National Register of Historic Places
Registration Forms.
Determine how the theme of the
context is significant in the history of
the local area, the State, or the
nation.
A theme is a means of organizing
properties into coherent patterns
based on elements such as environ-
ment, social/ethnic groups, transpor-
tation networks, technology, or
political developments that have
influenced the development of an area
during one or more periods of prehis-
tory or history. A theme is considered
significant if it can be demonstrated,
through scholarly research, to be
important in American history. Many
significant themes can be found in the
following list of Areas of Significance
used by the National Register.
AREAS OF SIGNIFICANCE
Agriculture
Architecture
Archeology
Prehistoric
Historic —Aboriginal
Historic —Non -Aboriginal
Art
Commerce
Communications
Community Planning and Development
Conservation
Economics
Education
Engineering
Entertainment/Recreation
Ethnic Heritage
Asian
Black
European
Hispanic
Native American
Pacific Islander
Other
Exploration/Settlement
Health/Medicine
Industry
Invention
Landscape Architecture
Law
Literature
Maritime History
Military
Performing Arts
Philosophy
Politics/Government
Religion
Science
Social History
Transportation
Other
Determine what the property type
is and whether it is important in
illustrating the historic context.
A context may be represented by a
variety of important property types.
For example, the context of "Civil
War Military Activity in Northern
Virginia" might be represented by
such properties as: a group of mid -
19th century fortification structures;
an open field where a battle occurred;
a knoll from which a general directed
troop movements; a sunken transport
ship; the residences or public build-
ings that served as company head-
quarters; a railroad bridge that served
as a focal point for a battle; and
earthworks exhibiting particular
construction techniques.
Because a historic context for a
community can be based on a distinct
period of development, it might
include numerous property types.
For example, the context "Era of
Industrialization in Grand Bay,
Michigan, 1875 - 1900" could be
represented by important property
types as diverse as sawmills, paper
mill sites, salt refining plants, flour
mills, grain elevators, furniture
factories, workers housing, commer-
cial buildings, social halls, schools,
churches, and transportation facilities.
A historic context can also be based
on a single important type of prop-
erty. The context "Development of
County Government in Georgia,
1777 - 1861" might be represented
solely by courthouses. Similarly,
"Bridge Construction in Pittsburgh,
1870 - 1920" would probably only
have one property type.
Determine how the property
represents the context through
specific historic associations, archi-
tectural or engineering values, or
information potential (the Criteria
for Evaluation).
For example, the context of county
government expansion is represented
under Criterion A by historic districts
or buildings that reflect population
growth, development patterns, the
role of government in that society,
and political events in the history of
the State, as well as the impact of
county government on the physical
development of county seats. Under
Criterion C, the context is represented
by properties whose architectural
treatments reflect their governmental
functions, both practically and
symbolically. (See Part Vt: How to
Identify the Type of Significance of a
Property.)
Determine what physical features
the property must possess in order
for it to reflect the significance of the
historic context.
These physical features can be
determined after identifying the
following:
• Which types of properties are as-
sociated with the historic context,
• The ways in which properties can
represent the theme, and
• The applicable aspects of integ-
rity.
Properties that have the defined
characteristics are eligible for listing.
(See Part VIII: How to Evaluate the
Integrity of a Property.)
PROPERTIES SIGNIFICANT
WITHIN MORE THAN ONE
HISTORIC CONTEXT
A specific property can be signifi-
cant within one or more historic
contexts, and, if possible, all of these
should be identified. For example, a
public building constructed in the
1830s that is related to the historic
context of Civil War campaigns in the
area might also be related to the
theme of political developments in the
community during the 1880s. A
property is only required, however, to
be documented as significant in one
context.
COMPARING RELATED
PROPERTIES
Properties listed in the National
Register must possess significance
when evaluated in the perspective of
their historic context. Once the
historic context is established and the
property type is determined, it is not
necessary to evaluate the property in
question against other properties if:
• It is the sole example of a prop-
erty type that is important in il-
lustrating the historic context or
• It clearly possesses the defined
characteristics required to
strongly represent the context.
If these two conditions do not
apply, then the property will have to
be evaluated against other examples
of the property type to determine its
eligibility. The geographic level
(local, State, or national) at which this
evaluation is made is the same as the
level of the historic context. (See Part
V: How to Evaluate a Property Within
Its Historic Context.)
LOCAL, STATE,
AND NATIONAL
HISTORIC
CONTEXTS
Historic contexts are found at a
variety of geographical levels or
scales. The geographic scale selected
may relate to a pattern of historical
development, a political division, or a
cultural area. Regardless of the scale,
the historic context establishes the
framework from which decisions
about the significance of related
properties can be made.
LOCAL HISTORIC
CONTEXTS
A local historic context represents
an aspect of the history of a town,
city, county, cultural area, or region,
or any portions thereof. It is defined
by the importance of the property, not
necessarily the physical location of the
property. For instance, if a property
is of a type found throughout a State,
or its boundaries extend over two
States, but its importance relates only
to a particular county, the property
would be considered of local signifi-
cance.
The level of context of archeologi-
cal sites significant for their informa-
tion potential depends on the scope of
the applicable research design. For
example, a Late Mississippian village
site may yield information in a
research design concerning one
settlement system on a regional scale,
while in another research design it
may reveal information of local
importance concerning a single
group's stone tool manufacturing
techniques or house forms. It is a
question of how the available infor-
mation potential is likely to be used.
STATE HISTORIC
CONTEXTS
Properties are evaluated in a State
context when they represent an aspect
of the history of the State as a whole
(or American Samoa, the District of
Columbia, the Commonwealth of the
Northern Mariana Islands, Guam,
Puerto Rico, or the Virgin Islands).
These properties do not necessarily
have to belong to property types
found throughout the entire State:
they can be located in only a portion
of the State's present political bound-
ary. It is the property's historic
context that must be important
statewide. For example, the "cotton
belt" extends through only a portion
of Georgia, yet its historical develop-
ment in the antebellum period af-
fected the entire State. These State
historic contexts may have associated
properties that are statewide or
locally significant representations. A
cotton gin in a small town might be a
locally significant representation of
this context, while one of the largest
cotton producing plantations might
be of State significance.
A property whose historic associa-
tions or information potential appears
to extend beyond a single local area
might be significant at the State level.
A property can be significant to more
than one community or local area,
however, without having achieved
State significance.
A property that overlaps several
State boundaries can possibly be
significant to the State or local history
of each of the States. Such a property
is not necessarily of national signifi-
cance, however, nor is it necessarily
significant to all of the States in which
it is located.
Prehistoric sites are not often
considered to have "State" signifi-
cance, per se, largely because States
are relatively recent political entities
and usually do not correspond closely
to Native American political territo-
ries or cultural areas. Numerous sites,
however, may be of significance to a
large region that might geographi-
cally encompass parts of one, or
usually several, States. Prehistoric
resources that might be of State
significance include regional sites that
provide a diagnostic assemblage of
artifacts for a particular cultural
group or time period or that provide
chronological control (specific dates
or relative order in time) for a series
of cultural groups.