Ritter House
Also known as: Jireh Luce House
Why it's listed
Built in 1796 for Jireh Luce, this Federal house on Beach Street in Vineyard Haven is the only Federal period house left on its stretch of the street. It is a 2½-story, five-bay wood-frame building with a chimney at each gable end, a rear ell forming a T-plan, a six-panel door under a pedimented surround, and mostly original woodwork, fireplaces and wainscoting inside. The house survived the fire of August 11, 1883, which destroyed more than 60 buildings along Main Street; local tradition credits owner Dr. Charles Lane with putting out sparks on the roof using his silk hat. It served as an inn from before 1800 to about 1812 under Dr. Rufus Spaulding, a doctor, postmaster and selectman, and later housed sea captains and a Tisbury School principal. Saved from demolition in 1976, it was leased for use as the school superintendent's headquarters.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is one of the few buildings to survive the great Vineyard Haven fire of 1883 and that it served as an inn and home to many prominent citizens in the 19th century. It also has architectural significance for its simple Federal styling and well-preserved interiors.
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 77000169, listed December 6, 1977. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Beach St., Vineyard Haven |
|---|---|
| County | Dukes County |
| Listed | December 6, 1977 |
| Reference number | 77000169 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1796 |
| Architectural style | Federal |
| Areas of significance | Community Planning and Development, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Saved from demolition in 1976; leased to the Martha's Vineyard School Committee as the Superintendent of Schools' headquarters. Condition listed as good. |
| Acreage | 0.2 |
| Coordinates | 41.45389, -70.60221 (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 77000169.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q2155082
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.