Leonard, Capt. Charles, House
Why it's listed
Built in 1805 on Main Street in Agawam, the Captain Charles Leonard House is a two-and-a-half-story, hip-roofed clapboard building with a central hall and two rooms on each side. Its facade is richly detailed: Tuscan columns support a deep pediment with a fan window, the doorway has a fanlight, sidelights and Doric pilasters, and a tall Palladian window lights the stair landing. A two-story rear ell, raised from one story in 1938, and a one-story ell added about 1960 extend behind. The tap room, running the width of the house, has vertical wainscot and Dutch doors. The house was built for Captain Charles Leonard, a militia member and leading citizen sometimes described as the farmer who went to Harvard, who operated it as an inn. It is attributed to architect Asher Benjamin, though the attribution is undocumented. It is regarded as Agawam's most elaborate pre-1850 architectural work and now serves as the town's community house and museum.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it the most elaborate pre-1850 architectural work in Agawam, a rural and unpretentious town. It was built for Captain Charles Leonard, a militia member and leading citizen who ran it as an inn. It now serves as the town's community house and museum.
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 75000273, listed March 10, 1975. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 663 Main St., Agawam |
|---|---|
| County | Hampden County |
| Listed | March 10, 1975 |
| Reference number | 75000273 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1805 |
| Architect / builder | Asher Benjamin (attributed) |
| Architectural style | Federal |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Presently used as the town's community house and museum, hosting civic functions. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Agawam Center Historic District |
| Coordinates | 42.07057, -72.61433 (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 75000273.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5036413
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.