McMahan Homestead
Also known as: Landmark Acres
Why it's listed
Built around 1820 by James McMahan, this two-story, five-bay frame house at 232 West Main Road in Westfield is one of Chautauqua County's earliest surviving residences. It has clapboard siding, a gable roof, a central entrance with sidelights and pilasters, and a twentieth-century semicircular portico with Corinthian columns. An east wing, originally an open porch, was enclosed in 1939, when the interior was extensively remodeled; a Federal mantelpiece survived. McMahan, described as the county's first settler, came from Pennsylvania in 1802, cleared land, planted corn and built a log cabin before constructing this Federal-style house. John Johnston, patriarch of a prominent local business family, bought the farm in 1826. William Vorce, who acquired it in the 1850s, erected the stone monument marking the first settlement and first post office in Westfield. The property now covers 27.5 acres, mostly vineyard, with an 1880s barn and several non-contributing outbuildings.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is one of the county's earliest surviving residences and shows Federal-style features such as a symmetrical five-bay facade and central entrance. It is also associated with Col. James McMahan, described as Chautauqua County's first settler. Later owners included prominent Westfield citizens such as John Johnston and William Vorce.
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 83001653, listed September 26, 1983. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 232 W. Main Rd., Westfield |
|---|---|
| County | Chautauqua County |
| Listed | September 26, 1983 |
| Reference number | 83001653 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Architect unknown; builder James McMahan |
| Architectural style | Federal |
| Areas of significance | Exploration/Settlement, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition listed as excellent; in residential use, with the barn used as an antique shop. No threats known. |
| Acreage | 27.5 |
| Coordinates | 42.31098, -79.59030 (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 83001653.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6802270
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.