Hall, Frank A., House
Why it's listed
Built around 1855 at 34 Washington Street in Westfield, this two-story brick house is finished in stucco and follows the Italian Villa style. Its wings spread asymmetrically around a three-story central tower, with the main entrance at the tower's base and rounded-arch windows on the upper tower levels. A low-pitched hipped roof and a bracketed cornice with dentils complete the form. The stucco is scored to imitate stone blocks, a treatment the nomination describes as unique in the village. The house is believed to have been built by George W. Palmer, a prominent local attorney. Later it belonged to Frank A. Hall, who from 1873 owned the Westfield Republican newspaper; a Victorian-detailed front porch was added during his occupancy. A frame barn with a gable roof is included. The nomination notes recent deterioration from neglect, yet finds that the building keeps substantial integrity as an example of its style.
Significance in brief: The house is a distinctive example of mid-nineteenth century Italian Villa architecture, with irregular massing of wings around a central tower, a low-pitched hipped roof and a bracketed cornice. It reflects the picturesque ideals popularized by architects of the period and is unique in the village for its scored stucco exterior. It is also tied to Westfield figures George W. Palmer and Frank A. Hall.
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 83001650, listed September 26, 1983. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 34 Washington St., Westfield |
|---|---|
| County | Chautauqua County |
| Listed | September 26, 1983 |
| Reference number | 83001650 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Italian Villa |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Residence, in use as a residence; the form describes recent deterioration from neglect but says original integrity remains. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.32536, -79.57788 (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 83001650.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5484871
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.