Leggett, Thomas H., House
Also known as: Thomas H.Leggett House
Approximate location: the National Park Service places this pin arbitrarily within the property, not at a surveyed point (stated accuracy ±12 m).
Why it's listed
This one-story cottage at 346 W. 21st Street in Merced was built around 1890 for Thomas H. Leggett. It is a balloon-frame, all-redwood house with horizontal V-groove siding, a steep truncated hip roof covered in copper shingles, and a widow's walk with iron cresting. Gables on the front and west sides carry pendants, finials, scrolled patterns and sunbursts, and a sunburst frieze runs beneath them. The design blends Queen Anne, Stick and Eastlake elements. Leggett, born in New York and arrived in California in 1858, served Merced County as a peace officer, deputy sheriff and constable before being appointed Postmaster in December 1890. He bought the lot in 1889, and 1890 tax records show $1,000 in improvements. The house is one of only seven pre-1900 homes remaining in Merced and is valued for its elaborate millwork and high design integrity. Its local importance rests on both its architecture and its link to Leggett.
Significance in brief: It is an outstanding local example of late 19th century design, combining Queen Anne, Stick and Eastlake elements with elaborate millwork. It is one of only seven surviving homes in Merced built before 1900. It is also directly associated with Thomas H. Leggett, an early Merced Constable and Postmaster.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 82002207, listed July 8, 1982. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 346 W. 21st St., Merced |
|---|---|
| County | Merced County |
| Listed | July 8, 1982 |
| Reference number | 82002207 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architect / builder | Unknown |
| Architectural style | Eclectic: Queen Anne, Stick and Eastlake elements (Queen Anne Cottage) |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied as a private residence; condition listed as fair, with some alterations such as replaced porch step railings and an added bathroom. |
| Acreage | 0.3 |
| Coordinates | 37.30453, -120.47941 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary for a privately owned home: it does not by itself restrict what an owner may do with their own money, and it does not require public access. Restrictions come from local landmark or historic-district ordinances, which are separate (how they differ).
Owner-occupied houses are not eligible for the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit, which applies to income-producing buildings, but many states offer credits for homeowners. Listing also opens the door to preservation easements and to buying a plaque. Start with what listing means for homeowners, renovating a listed house and selling one.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 82002207.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14684129
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.