Thompson, Henry Dwight, House
Why it's listed
Built in 1869 at 29 Wood Street in Westfield, this two-story, L-shaped frame farmhouse was constructed for Henry Dwight Thompson, a prominent local grape farmer. It has a cross gable roof and clapboard siding. The three-bay south facade has a side entrance, and each bay holds a pair of tall, narrow, round-headed windows under a semi-elliptical wooden surround, flanked by round-arched louvered shutters. A one-story veranda wraps the front and west sides, and its bracketed posts are said by tradition to have hand-carved bases. A one-story rear addition was added in 1926. Inside, oak and walnut woodwork survives intact. The house is valued as a well-preserved example of a Victorian frame residence in the village, with unusually fine window, door and porch details and a skillful use of applied ornament in a modest mid-nineteenth century vernacular farmhouse. It has remained in the Thompson family since it was built and still serves as a home, set on a 2.2-acre lot in a sparsely settled neighborhood.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is architecturally significant as an intact surviving frame Victorian residence in Westfield. It shows fine detailing at the windows, doors and porch, and is an excellent example of applied ornament, formal detailing and plan in a modestly scaled mid-nineteenth century vernacular farmhouse. It has also remained in the same family since it was built.
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 83001656, listed September 26, 1983. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 29 Wood St., Westfield |
|---|---|
| County | Chautauqua County |
| Listed | September 26, 1983 |
| Reference number | 83001656 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Architect: Mr. Sylvester; Builder: Henry Dwight Thompson |
| Architectural style | Victorian frame residence; vernacular farmhouse |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | In use as a residence, as it was originally; described as well preserved with intact interior woodwork. |
| Acreage | 2.2 |
| Coordinates | 42.31678, -79.56910 (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 83001656.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14706344
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.