Brendle Farms facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Brendle Farms
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 Location in Pennsylvania
Location in the United States
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| Location | Jct. of PA 501 and 897, Schaefferstown, Pennsylvania |
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| Area | 347 acres (140 ha) |
| Built | c. 1750 |
| Built by | John Miley |
| Architectural style | "Swiss bank" |
| NRHP reference No. | 72001130 |
| Added to NRHP | July 24, 1972 |
Brendle Farms is a very old and important farm located in Schaefferstown, Pennsylvania. It's also known by other names like Alexander Schaeffer Farm or Sheetz Farm. This historic place is found in Heidelberg Township, which is in Lebanon County, Pennsylvania.
The main house on Brendle Farms was built a long time ago, around the year 1750. It's a special type of building called a "Swiss bank house." This means it's built into the side of a hill, so one side has a basement level that opens directly to the ground. The house has two and a half stories. It also has a large, arched cellar where things like wine were stored. There was even a place where people used to make drinks, like a small factory.
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What Makes Brendle Farms Special?
Brendle Farms is more than just a house; it's a whole collection of historic farm buildings. These buildings help us understand what farm life was like many years ago.
Historic Farm Buildings
- Bank Barn: Built around 1894, this barn is also a "bank" style, meaning it's built into a slope. This design made it easy to load hay and grain from a higher level.
- Stone Pigsty: This small building, from about 1740, was where pigs were kept. It's made of strong stone.
- Limestone Smokehouse: This building was used to smoke and preserve meat, keeping it fresh for longer without refrigeration.
- Wheat Barn: Around 1840, this barn was built specifically for storing wheat after it was harvested.
- Wagon Shed and Corn Crib: These buildings were used to store farm wagons and to keep corn safe and dry.
There's also a second house on the property, called the Lower Farm, which also has a Swiss bank barn. Today, the main house at Brendle Farms is part of the Historic Schaefferstown museum. This means you can visit it and learn about its history!
National Recognition
Brendle Farms is very important because it has been recognized at a national level for its history.
National Register of Historic Places
In 1972, Brendle Farm was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This is an official list kept by the United States government. It includes buildings, sites, and objects that are important in American history, architecture, archaeology, engineering, or culture. Being on this list helps protect these special places.
National Historic Landmark
Later, in 2011, another house on the property, called the Schaeffer House (located on the Upper Farm), received an even higher honor. It was named a National Historic Landmark. This title is given to places that are considered to be of exceptional national importance. It means the Schaeffer House tells a big part of America's story.
