Pfeiffer-Wheeler American Chestnut Cabin
Also known as: Pfeiffer Nature Center
Why it's listed
Built in 1941 on a high ridge above Portville, New York, this one-story cabin is framed with American chestnut logs gathered from the surrounding land after blight killed most of the species. Timothy and Eleanor Wheeler Pfeiffer had it built as a summer home, using plans by Olean architect Metcalf Shaffer. Craftsman Ivory Watters, who had built chestnut cabins at a New Jersey youth camp, led local crews in the construction. The untreated chestnut exterior has weathered to silver, while the 800-square-foot great room has a fieldstone fireplace, a slate floor and an open gabled ceiling of white pine. Much of the original chestnut furniture and many family belongings remain in place. A small second-story addition was made in 1970. The cabin sits within 188 acres of mature forest and trails, now operated as the Pfeiffer Nature Center. It was listed for its architecture, as a rare and well-preserved example of chestnut log construction with exceptional craftsmanship.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is an outstanding example of traditional log cabin construction, illustrating a mid-twentieth-century phase of the type in the northeastern United States. It is thought to be one of very few private residences of this period framed in American chestnut logs. It retains nearly all its original furnishings and is one of only five known works by Olean architect Metcalf Shaffer.
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 01001436, listed January 11, 2002. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Lillibridge Rd., Portville |
|---|---|
| County | Cattaraugus County |
| Listed | January 11, 2002 |
| Reference number | 01001436 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1941 |
| Architect / builder | Shaffer, Metcalf |
| Architectural style | Other/rustic cabin |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Owned by the Pfeiffer Nature Center, a not-for-profit educational organization, and used as a nature center. The cabin retains its original interior and furnishings, with one 1970 second-story addition. |
| Acreage | 188 |
| Coordinates | 42.09231, -78.32395 (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 01001436.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7179783
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.