Project Focus: The Alexander Schaeffer House is a nationally significant property for its association with Alexander and Henry Schaeffer, the builders and founders of an important inland eighteenth century trading center and one of the only surviving Baroque-planned Germanic towns in America, and as a rare example of the culturally-distinct German building typology. With a period of significance spanning from 1758 when Alexander Schaeffer built the first section of the house to 1842 when Henry Schaeffer’s sons sold the property, the Schaeffer House is significant in the areas of Architecture and Community Planning and Development. Alexander Schaeffer founded Schaefferstown in 1758 while living at the Schaeffer House. Developed using academic European planning principles, Schaefferstown became an important crossroads community in Colonial America, and still survives with exceptional degree of architectural and historic integrity. Additionally, this house is an excellently-preserved example of early Germanic architecture in Colonial America, and still embodies the personality and culture of late medieval Germany. As a building type, the Schaeffer House can be classified as a bank house with the traditional characteristics that include: a gable end built into the bank so one end of the house has one story above ground, while the other end has two, and cooking relegated to the lower floors. However, it is slightly different than most bank houses in that it follows the more traditional form of the Germanic prototypes, with the main floor organized around a central, rather than gable end, fireplace. This building stands as a rare example of the role of European cultural traditions in settling the colonies and contributes substantially to the understanding of the early American architectural tradition. Working in conjunction with Historic Schaefferstown, Inc., Noble Preservation has completed a National Historic Landmark Nomination that is currently under review by the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission. Work completed to date includes a full set of measured drawings, HABS-quality photographic documentation and historical research which will help guide restoration and preservation efforts at the property. |
 Noble Preservation completed HABS-quality photographic documentation (by Graydon Wood) in anticipation of the NHL nomination.
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