1 Prospect St, Major Hoops' House

This is a stone example of a pre-Revolutionary Colonial style house. It retains the original exterior, featuring six-over-six window sashes, batten door, and rough-squared quoins. This is believed to be either the former residence of Major Robert Hoops or one of six that he built for the men who were stationed here at Fort Reading. The fort was built to protect settlers from local native Americans. The town was originally called Mercer but Hoops renamed the town Belvidere, as evidenced in a 1791 letter he wrote.