Brand, John, Jr., House
Also known as: Parkside Apartments
Why it's listed
Built around 1890 on Maple Avenue in Elmira, this large Queen Anne style house was commissioned by John Brand Jr., a wealthy wholesaler of leaf tobacco who also served on the Parks Commission and as an alderman. Brand Park, next to the house, was named in his honor. Local architects Otis Dockstader and John Considine designed the building, which has a rock-faced granite first story, wood shingle upper floors, octagonal engaged towers with conical roofs and gambrel cross gables. Inside, a two-flight oak stair rises to a landing lit by a Palladian window with leaded stained glass. Fireplaces have mirrored overmantels and glazed tile surrounds with figural plaques. The house combines Queen Anne, Shingle and early Colonial Revival elements and is regarded as an important, largely intact example of eclectic domestic architecture. It reflects the prosperity of late nineteenth-century Elmira and the tastes of its business leaders. It now serves as multiple dwellings.
Significance in brief: The house is significant under Criterion C as a distinguished and largely intact example of a large-scale Queen Anne/Shingle style residence in Elmira. It blends Queen Anne massing with Shingle style sheathing and early Colonial Revival details, and shows high craftsmanship in stone, shingles, oak woodwork, leaded glass and tile. It also reflects Elmira's late nineteenth-century prosperity and the work of two of its architects.
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 10000024, listed February 22, 2010. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 351 Maple Ave., Elmira |
|---|---|
| County | Chemung County |
| Listed | February 22, 2010 |
| Reference number | 10000024 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | ca. 1890 - ca. 1930 |
| Architect / builder | Otis Dockstader and John Considine |
| Architectural style | Queen Anne |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Historic single dwelling; current use is multiple dwelling (listed as Parkside Apartments). |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.08531, -76.79727 (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 10000024.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6222956
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.