Keim Homestead facts for kids
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Keim Homestead
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Keim Homestead. August 2013.
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 Location in Pennsylvania
Location in the United States
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| Location | West of Lobachsville, Pike Township, Pennsylvania |
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| Area | 20 acres (8.1 ha) |
| Built | 1750 |
| Architect | Keim, Johannes; Keim, Jacob |
| Architectural style | Germanic Influence |
| NRHP reference No. | 74001752 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | May 01, 1974 |
| Designated NHL | December 23, 2016 |
The Keim Homestead is a very old farm located on Boyer Road in Pike Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania. It was built in 1753 for Jacob Keim and his wife, Magdalena Hoch. Magdalena's father gave them the land for their new home.
Jacob's father, Johannes Keim, came to America from Germany in 1689. He explored the countryside of Pennsylvania looking for land that felt like the rich soil from the Black Forest in Germany. He found what he was looking for! He went back to Germany, married his wife Katarina, and they returned to America in 1707. Johannes first built a simple log structure for his family. Later, he built a stone home nearby.
The main part of Jacob and Magdalena Keim's house on Boyer Road was built in two stages. It still has many original German building features. This includes a special "Chevron door" on the second floor, which is very old and unique. The outside of the house is made of limestone. Many of the original details and decorations inside and out are still there, which is rare for a house from this time period.
Contents
What Makes the Keim Homestead Special?
The Keim Homestead is a two-and-a-half-story building made of limestone. It used to have a roof made of red clay tiles. Today, it has a metal roof. Inside, you can still see the large walk-in fireplaces. Much of the original wooden parts and metal pieces (like door handles) are still in place.
How Was the House Designed?
The foundation and walls of the house are made from local limestone. It's known as a "stove-room house." This means the first floor has three main rooms. A kitchen is on one side of a central fireplace. On the other side of the fireplace, there's a "stove" room (a family living space) and a bedroom. The tall stone chimney goes up through the house and has a brick top that sticks out above the roof. The original house also has rounded arches above all its windows and doors on the outside.
Later Changes and Additions
Over the years, some parts were added to the house, like porches. In 1975, a special old machine called the Hartman Cider Press was moved to the Keim Homestead. It came from 11 miles away in Muhlenberg Township.
National Recognition
The Keim Homestead was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1974. This means it's an important historical site. In 2016, it was given an even higher honor: it was named a National Historic Landmark. This shows it's a very important example of German colonial architecture in the entire country.
