Phelps Mansion
Also known as: The Monday Afternoon Clubhouse
Why it's listed
Built in 1870 at 191 Court Street in Binghamton, this two-story brick mansion was commissioned by Sherman D. Phelps, a former mayor, at a cost of $100,000. Isaac G. Perry, later chief architect of the State Capitol in Albany, designed it, and John Stuart Wells served as builder. The house is five bays wide, with an apsidal solarium on the east side, granite quoins and segmental keystones over the windows. A third floor and high mansard roof were removed in 1941, and an auditorium was added at the rear in 1905, when a private club bought the property. Its interiors are the main distinction: imported marble, decorative tiles, custom chandeliers, and carefully chosen woods including maple, walnut and oak in the principal rooms. A hand-carved black walnut staircase, made by Orville F. Roth for $10,000, rises from the central hall. An old iron fence by the Titchener Iron Works marks the Court Street entrance.
Significance in brief: The nomination presents the mansion as an outstanding example of an architect's imagination and a craftsman's skill, especially in its interiors of rare woods, marble and glass. It was designed by Isaac G. Perry, a nationally recognized architect who became chief architect of the State Capitol in Albany. It also reflects the elegance of early Binghamton's finest residential district.
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 73001165, listed June 4, 1973. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 191 Court St., Binghamton |
|---|---|
| County | Broome County |
| Listed | June 4, 1973 |
| Reference number | 73001165 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 19th Century (specific date 1870) |
| Architect / builder | Architect Isaac G. Perry; builder John Stuart Wells |
| Areas of significance | Art, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied and in good condition; used as a private club. The building is altered: the third floor and mansard roof were removed in 1941 and an auditorium was added in 1905. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.10078, -75.90520 (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 73001165.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7181271
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.