49 South White Oak Street
“The Biever House”
View of Biever Home in 1888
This five-bay 2½-story limestone house constructed in 1814 in the Georgian style, was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1976. The Biever (also spelled “Beaver”) family arrived in Annville circa 1800 and quickly became one of the leading families of the community. John D. Biever (1812-1880) was perhaps the most noteworthy of the family, holding several political offices and operating a large tanning establishment south of his residence. He played a pivotal role in the building of the First Evangelical Lutheran Church at 200 East Main Street. His nephew, William Beaver—a treasurer for the county—also lived in the house for several years.
The house is constructed of limestone with huge quoins. An attempt at regular coursing was made on the façade, but the gable ends and rear of the house are very irregular. Window frames are pegged and mortised. The window sash is not original. The pilastered and reeded main doorway is decorated with a fine pickwork pattern, also used in the cornice decoration. The three gable roof dormers on the front slope of the roof also feature this pick work design. The fan window in the attic level has a brick arch and pick work done in a swag motif.
