Kelley, Mercelia Evelyn Eldridge, House
Why it's listed
Built in 1877 at 2610 Main Street in South Chatham, this wood-frame house faces south on a lot of just under one acre. The 2½-story main block has a brick foundation, cedar clapboards, paired brackets under the eaves and corner pilasters, all in the Italianate manner. A side porch with turned posts and a pierced railing reflects the Queen Anne style and was probably enlarged within ten years of construction. Inside, painted grained doors and richly profiled moldings survive on the ground floor. It was built for Mercelia Eldridge Kelley and her husband Cyrus, a sail maker who later ran the family lumber and coal business with his father-in-law, Levi Eldridge. The Eldridge family owned much of the village real estate and shaped its growth in the 19th century. The house stayed in the family for 123 years. It is valued as a well-preserved example of Italianate vernacular design and for its ties to the growth of South Chatham.
Significance in brief: The house is an intact example of a late 19th century middle-class vernacular residence with Italianate trim, and is listed under Criterion C for its well-preserved style. It is also listed under Criterion A for its link to the development of South Chatham and to the locally important Eldridge family, who owned much of the village's real estate.
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 05000080, listed February 24, 2005. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 2610 Main St., Chatham |
|---|---|
| County | Barnstable County |
| Listed | February 24, 2005 |
| Reference number | 05000080 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1877-1954 |
| Architect / builder | Unknown (Thomas Ambler, architect, for the 2001 alterations) |
| Architectural style | Late Victorian: Italianate, Queen Anne (porch) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Community Planning and Development |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Used as a single dwelling; renovated in 2001-2002 with new plumbing and wiring, a remodeled kitchen and an added dormer, while the main block remains largely intact. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | South Chatham Village Historic District |
| Coordinates | 41.67900, -70.02595 (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 05000080.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6818228
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.