ROUTE 662, OLEY TOWNSHIP, BERKS COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
Set within the cultivated landscape of the Oley Valley, approximately 65 miles northwest of Philadelphia, the Henry Fisher House, built between 1798 and 1801, stands as one of the region’s most refined interpretations of the late Georgian tradition. Constructed of locally quarried stone and composed with exacting symmetry, the house reflects the aspirations of a prosperous agrarian household at the turn of the nineteenth century, faithfully rooted in classical proportion.
The exterior presents an ordered composition. A balanced five bay facade, stone walls laid with precision, and a carefully arranged sequence of windows create a sense of measured dignity within the surrounding farmland. The clarity of the elevations, including the regular placement of chimneys and openings, expresses both technical skill and cultural restraint. The house sits with a poised confidence on the Pennsylvania landscape.
Seen through our measured drawings, the doorway and interiors show how the architectural logic extends through the house. Drawings of the entry, mantels, and moulding profiles reveal the thoughtful joinery and polished trim that organize the principal rooms. Pilasters carry an entablature crowned by a pediment above the door, while interior cornices, stepped architraves, and layered profiles move from bold shadow to delicate refinement. These elements demonstrate how proportion and carefully shaped wood could elevate a working farmhouse into a building of architectural character, offering a lasting study in disciplined domestic design.
