EASTON, Pa. — With the nation approaching the 250th anniversary of American independence, state funding is now in place to help restore the long-vacant Hooper House, a Revolutionary War-era building in the city’s historic downtown district.
State Sen. Lisa Boscola, D-Northampton, recently announced a $100,000 Keystone Historic Preservation Grant from the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission to support rehabilitation work at the property, located at Fifth and Northampton streets.
“As America is on the verge of celebrating the 250th Anniversary of our Independence, it is so fitting that the state will be collaborating with the City of Easton on bringing the Hooper House, which served as Colonel Hooper’s headquarters during the Revolutionary War, back to life,” Boscola said in a news release.
“Restoring it as another educational landmark for future generations to learn about the important role Easton played in our country’s independence will be a tremendous asset for the City of Easton and the Lehigh Valley.”
Work aims to restore structure
The Hooper House has sat vacant for decades; the city deemed the property blighted in 2012 due to long-term vacancy and deterioration.
But when the Revolutionary War erupted in 1775, it belonged to Col. Robert Lettis Hooper, Jr. He was appointed a deputy quartermaster general in the Continental Army, making it his responsibility to equip troops located in Northampton, Bucks, Berks and Philadelphia counties as well as troops in Sussex County, N.J, according to the New Jersey Historical Society.
The Keystone Historic Preservation Grant will fund rehabilitation work including masonry repointing, roof repairs and window restoration to the structure, which is currently not weatherized.
The funding comes through a competitive statewide program administered by PHMC that awarded just over $2.2 million to 38 historical organizations, museums and local governments across 19 counties.
Of 115 applications, only 38 were funded. Grants ranged from $5,000 to $100,000, with construction projects eligible for the maximum award.
All Keystone grants require a 50-50 cash match, meaning Easton will need to pair the state funding with an equal local investment or eligible contributions to move the project forward.
Highlighting a Revolutionary history
Keystone grants support the preservation of historic and archaeological resources across Pennsylvania, as well as municipal planning tied to historic assets. The program is funded through the Keystone Recreation, Park & Conservation Fund, which draws revenue from a portion of the state realty transfer tax.
Officials say the Hooper House project reflects both a preservation challenge and an opportunity to highlight Easton’s Revolutionary War history as the United States prepares for the 250th anniversary of independence.
The building sits in the heart of the city’s historic downtown district but has deteriorated significantly after decades of vacancy.
Under an agreement last year, the city took ownership of Hooper House, with the parcel at 1,417 square feet.
Northampton County Judge Jeremy Clark, former city solicitor, previously described the structure as the last remaining historic building that had been owned by a private entity instead of a local government or nonprofit.
“The city been attempting for quite a long time to acquire control of the Hooper House with the goal of restoring it, creating another bit of history in the city to help with tourism and the overall historical nature and character of the city of Easton, and those negotiations were many-fold and varied," Clark said in December.
The Lehigh Valley Community Foundation also has established a restoration fund for Hooper House, one of a handful of Colonial-era surviving buildings in Easton. Other remaining properties include the Parsons-Taylor House, which was owned by one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, and the Bachmann Publick House, a stone tavern which housed the Court of Northampton County for over a decade.
"Restoring the property will help enhance the character of this historic main street district and support broader revitalization goals outlined in the City’s comprehensive plan," the foundation's website says.
"When complete, the Hooper House is expected to join other historic sites in Easton as a venue for tours, educational programs, reenactments, and community events, strengthening the city’s cultural landscape and expanding public access to its heritage."
