The Carlisle Historic District
The Carlisle Historic District was listed on the National Register in 1979. It covers 154 acres of the downtown and surrounding residential streets, with 1,011 contributing buildings. Most date from the middle to late 19th century, and a few from the 18th.
Just outside town, Carlisle Barracks has more than 50 buildings on the National Register. Its oldest, the Hessian Powder Magazine, is traditionally dated to 1777.
Roofs on 19th-century Carlisle houses
- Brick townhouses with gable roofs and end chimneys.
- Standing seam metal, often painted, on main roofs, porches and dormers.
- Slate on some larger houses and churches.
- Low-slope roofs over rear additions.
See also: Slate and metal roofs
Historic rules
National Register listing by itself does not restrict a homeowner's roof. Local historic district rules can. Before changing a roof's material, color or shape on a downtown house, ask the borough whether local approval is needed.
Matching the original
Where appearance matters, replacing metal with metal of a similar panel width and seam, or slate with slate or a convincing synthetic, is usually the simplest path.
Questions
+Does Carlisle require approval for a new roof downtown?
Possibly, if your property falls under the borough's local historic district rules. Check with the borough before choosing a different material.
+My house has a metal roof. Should I replace it with metal?
On a historic house, matching metal keeps the look and often simplifies approvals. Outside the district it is a matter of preference, upkeep and appearance.