Jarvis, William W., House
Also known as: Schmidt,Harold and Marie,House
Why it's listed
Built in 1867 by William W. Jarvis, a Troy businessman and civic leader, this two-story clapboard house at 317 East Center Street is an Italianate residence on its original wooded lot. Jarvis built it in anticipation of his marriage, and he later ran Troy's first lumber yard and founded the Troy Exchange Bank. The house has an L-shaped compound plan, a low cross-gabled roof, large scrolled eave brackets with turned finials, tall narrow windows with pediment hoods, two bay windows, and a two-level wraparound porch. Inside are a curved staircase with a walnut handrail, marble parlor mantels, and a butler's pantry. Jarvis made early additions to the parlor and rear wing for his growing family, using the same materials as the original. Other Italianate houses once standing in Troy have been lost, except one towered villa, leaving this as the sole surviving asymmetrical example. It has always served as a private residence, and its owners have kept its original details intact.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is significant under Criterion C for architecture as an intact example of the Italianate asymmetrical, compound-plan subtype. It is described as the only surviving example of that subtype in Troy. It remains on its original site and has been continuously a private residence, with its original design features maintained.
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 87002514, listed February 3, 1988. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 317 E. Center St., Troy |
|---|---|
| County | Madison County |
| Listed | February 3, 1988 |
| Reference number | 87002514 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 (specific date circa 1867) |
| Architect / builder | William W. Jarvis (builder) |
| Architectural style | Italianate (asymmetrical, compound-plan subtype) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied and in excellent condition as a private residence; well maintained in the style of the original design. |
| Acreage | 1 |
| Coordinates | 38.72692, -89.87665 (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 87002514.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q15844816
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.