Eustace, Alexander, House
Why it's listed
Built in 1886 on Maple Avenue in Elmira, this three-story house with a prominent Mansard roof, dormers and a wrap-around porch is a well-preserved example of Second Empire design. It was built for Alexander Eustace, a lawyer and Democratic politician who served as Chemung County clerk and later chaired the New York State Civil Service Commission. He left that post in 1893 after a public clash with Governor Roswell P. Flower over civil service rules, then returned to Elmira to practice law. The house sits beside two other large homes from the same neighborhood, built for John Brand Sr. and Jr. A two-story addition was made in the 1930s, and in the 1940s the building was divided into six apartments that follow the original room layout. Original fireplaces, moldings, doors, plaster walls, wood floors and a curving staircase survive. The architect or builder is not known. The property is considered the only documented extant building directly linked to Eustace.
Significance in brief: It is the only documented surviving building directly tied to Alexander Eustace (1854-1913), who served in the state tax department and as chairman of the New York State Civil Service Commission. It is also a highly intact example of Second Empire residential architecture, with its Mansard roof, dormers and wrap-around porch.
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 11000996, listed January 4, 2012. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 401 Maple Ave., Elmira |
|---|---|
| County | Chemung County |
| Listed | January 4, 2012 |
| Reference number | 11000996 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1886-1913 |
| Architectural style | Late Victorian: Second Empire |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Politics/Government, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Divided into six rental apartments in the 1940s and still used as apartments; the interior retains original plaster, floors, woodwork, mantels and the main staircase. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Maple Avenue Historic District |
| Coordinates | 42.08691, -76.79572 (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 11000996.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q4718812
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.