Wells, J. Stuart, House
Also known as: Ernest H. Parsons Funeral Home
Why it's listed
Standing at the corner of Main and Chapin Streets in Binghamton, this brick house was built in 1867-70 for J. Stuart Wells, a local carpenter, contractor and later mayor. Isaac G. Perry, a prominent architect who worked in Binghamton from 1866, designed it. The two-and-one-half story house has a cross-gabled plan, a complex roofline, paneled chimneys, carved stone lintels and deep eaves with scrolled brackets. A large wooden porch with hand-carved columns, brackets and cast-iron cresting wraps around two street sides. Inside, walnut stairs, ornate mantels with overmantels, and original moldings and hardware survive. Alterations between 1898 and 1926 matched the original materials. The building became a funeral home in 1942, and a large rear addition was built in 1951 without changing the original fabric. A brick carriage house stands behind. The house is one of only two known surviving Perry-designed residences in the city and retains exceptional integrity, which is the basis for its listing for architecture.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is an outstanding example of a late nineteenth century residence by Isaac G. Perry, who worked in Binghamton from 1866 until his death in 1904. It is one of only two surviving Perry-designed residences in Binghamton. Its ornate wrap-around porch and richly preserved interior retain an exceptionally high degree of integrity despite later alterations and a 1951 rear addition.
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 09000628, listed August 21, 2009. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 71 Main St., Binghamton |
|---|---|
| County | Broome County |
| Listed | August 21, 2009 |
| Reference number | 09000628 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1870-c1942 |
| Architect / builder | Isaac Perry, architect; J. Stuart Wells, builder |
| Architectural style | Late Victorian |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Continues in use as a funeral home, which has occupied the building since 1942. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.10147, -75.92245 (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 09000628.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6107152
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.