Historic 1740 Gray Cottage, Oldest Existing Moravian Structure in North America, to Undergo Major Preservation Project
Nazareth, PA — The Moravian Historical Society is pleased to announce a major preservation project to preserve the 1740 Gray Cottage, the oldest existing Moravian structure in North America. Beginning on August 11, 2026, this significant colonial-era building, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, will undergo essential repairs to ensure its long-term structural integrity and continued public use.
The preservation project will address critical structural needs by replacing the deteriorated bottom course of logs and repairing additional compromised logs. Replacement logs will be hand-hewn to match the original eighteenth-century materials and craftsmanship. Repairs will include removing outdated packing materials from cracks that no longer meet current preservation standards.
The work will be completed by Frank Stroik, a Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission (PHMC) pre-qualified contractor specializing in traditional carpentry methods, timber framing, and
eighteenth-century log home restoration. All preservation work will follow the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties, ensuring that the Cottage’s historic character and authenticity are preserved for future generations.
“This preservation project is an investment in Nazareth’s earliest surviving building and in the stories it continues to tell,” said Susan Ellis, executive director of The Moravian Historical Society. “By preserving the Gray Cottage today, we are ensuring that future generations can experience an authentic connection to the earliest days of Nazareth, the Moravian settlement, and colonial America.”
The public is invited to watch this rare preservation project as it unfolds throughout the month of August. Visitors will have the unique opportunity to observe skilled craftspeople replacing the historic logs using traditional techniques and to see firsthand how a colonial-era log structure is being preserved for future generations. Visitors are welcome Tuesday through Friday between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.
Funding for the project has been provided through a grant from the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission’s Keystone Historic Preservation Grant, a program funded by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. This project has also received funding from the Grow NORCO Grant Program through the County of Northampton Department of Community & Economic Development, as well as generous contributions from individual donors.
The Moravian Historical Society extends its sincere appreciation to its funding partners and supporters for helping safeguard this irreplaceable landmark. Through this important project, the nearly
300-year-old Gray Cottage will continue to educate and inspire visitors for generations to come.
About the Gray Cottage
Constructed in November 1740, the one-and-one-half-story log house is an exceptional example of early Pennsylvania-German and Moravian architecture. The building features half-dovetail corner joinery, hand-hewn logs, and a steeply pitched roof that reflects eighteenth-century building traditions.
For nearly three centuries, the Gray Cottage has played a central role in the history of Nazareth and the Moravian community. In 1743, the Moravian School for Boys relocated to the Cottage, establishing the first school in Nazareth. Beginning in 1755, the Cottage became home to the widows of the Moravian communities of Nazareth and Bethlehem until Bethlehem’s Widows’ House was completed in 1768.
The Gray Cottage also witnessed pivotal moments in early American history. Built more than three decades before the founding of the United States, it stood at the edge of the colonial frontier during the French and Indian War and the American Revolution. During the French and Indian War, hundreds of refugees sought shelter in the stockaded buildings in Nazareth. Between 1775 and 1783, Moravian community diaries recorded soldiers traveling through Nazareth and prisoners of war marching along the routes connecting the region to Fort Ticonderoga, underscoring the community’s strategic location during the Revolutionary era.
Today, the Gray Cottage remains an active educational resource and is open to the public. The building serves as a centerpiece for interpreting early American and Moravian history through exhibitions, educational programs, workshops, children’s summer camps, guided tours, and community events.
About the Moravian Historical Society
Founded in 1857, the Moravian Historical Society preserves, interprets, and celebrates the rich culture of the Moravians. Located in Nazareth, Pennsylvania, the organization operates a museum and historic site, offering exhibitions, educational programming, research resources, and public events that connect visitors to nearly three centuries of American history.
For more information:www.moravianhistory.org | 610-759-5070 | info@moravianhistory.org
Follow us on social media: Facebook: moravianhistoricalsociety | Instagram: moravianhistory
Information provided to TVL by:
Susan Ellis
