Mathewson, Holden B., House
Approximate location: the National Park Service places this pin arbitrarily within the property, not at a surveyed point (stated accuracy ±12 m).
Why it's listed
Built in 1908-09 for Holden B. Mathewson, this large Colonial Revival house sits on an estate-like property at the southern edge of South Otselic. The wood-frame house has a hipped roof with gabled dormers, Doric cornerboards, a denticulated cornice, a wrap-around porch and a porte-cochere. Inside, oak trim, a three-stage staircase, built-in bookcases and cabinets survive. A gambrel-roofed carriage barn with an apartment for a hired hand and five small agricultural outbuildings remain on the grounds. Mathewson, born in nearby Pharsalia, joined the Gladding Cordage Company as a partner in 1901 and helped manage its finances until retiring in 1923. He also served on a local bank board and as president of the board of education, and he supported the Masons and the Methodist Episcopal church. The house cost a reported $25,000. No architect or builder was identified. Among homes built for Gladding executives, it is among the largest and the most intact.
Significance in brief: The house is an exceptionally intact example of a large early twentieth century Colonial Revival residence in South Otselic. It is also tied to Holden B. Mathewson (1865-1927), a Gladding Cordage Company partner, banker, school board president and local philanthropist. Of the homes built for Gladding executives, it is among the largest and the only one with an estate-like setting.
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 09000860, listed October 23, 2009. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 1567 NY 26, South Otselic |
|---|---|
| County | Chenango County |
| Listed | October 23, 2009 |
| Reference number | 09000860 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1908-1927 |
| Architectural style | Late nineteenth and twentieth century revivals (Colonial Revival) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Social History |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still used as a single dwelling with secondary structures; the exterior and interior are described as largely intact, though the slate roof was replaced with asphalt shingles. |
| Acreage | 7.6 |
| Coordinates | 42.64477, -75.78365 (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 09000860.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5879439
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.