Burt, Elijah, House
Also known as: Bergamini,Thomas,House
Why it's listed
Built in 1720 for Elijah Burt, this two-story clapboard house on Chestnut Street in East Longmeadow is considered the oldest structure in town. It faces south and has a five-bay facade, twelve-over-twelve windows, a central chimney serving four fireplaces, and a pedimented central entrance with pilasters and a paneled door with three bull's-eye lights. The cellar is partial, with fieldstone walls set in lime mortar. The house has changed over time. The original ell was moved in the nineteenth century, a rear ell was added before 1900, and a late nineteenth-century Victorianization added a front porch and new door. Restoration began in 1946, uncovering early fireplaces and wainscoting and removing the porch. Later owners continued the work. The house is noted as one of the town's oldest, as a former stagecoach inn, and as the only known Underground Railroad stop in East Longmeadow. It remains a private residence on 2.3 acres.
Significance in brief: It is significant as one of the oldest houses in East Longmeadow and as the only known Underground Railroad stop in the town. The house also retains its colonial form despite later alterations and a restoration begun in 1946.
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 76000240, listed April 26, 1976. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 201 Chestnut St., East Longmeadow |
|---|---|
| County | Hampden County |
| Listed | April 26, 1976 |
| Reference number | 76000240 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1720 |
| Architectural style | Colonial (Georgian) |
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Social History |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied private residence in excellent condition; altered, restored beginning 1946 and continued by owners from 1969. |
| Acreage | 2.3 |
| Coordinates | 42.05431, -72.51452 (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 76000240.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5360894
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.