Vilas, S. F., Home for Aged & Infirmed Ladies
Why it's listed
Built in 1889 at the northwest corner of Beekman and Cornelia Streets in Plattsburgh, this three-story brick building was created as a residence for aged and infirm ladies. Harriet Hunt Vilas erected and endowed it in memory of her husband, Samuel F. Vilas, and it was dedicated on March 3, 1890. It was designed by Marcus F. Cummings and provides accommodation for 44 residents from Clinton, Essex or Franklin counties. The load-bearing masonry structure shows Queen Anne character through truncated hipped roofs with cross-gable wings, corbelled decorative chimneys, moulded cornices, bands of colored brickwork, Doric columns, polygonal bays, arched windows and recessed porches, one beneath an arch. The only noted alteration is a one-story shed-roof clapboard addition at the rear. The home is described as one of the earliest institutional buildings in the city and a fine local example of Queen Anne architecture. It continues in its original use and is in excellent condition.
Significance in brief: The building was erected and endowed by Harriet Hunt Vilas in memory of her husband, Samuel F. Vilas, and dedicated in 1890. It is described as one of the earliest institutional structures in the city and a fine example of Queen Anne architecture in the locale.
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 82001113, listed November 12, 1982. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Beekman and Cornelia Sts., Plattsburgh |
|---|---|
| County | Clinton County |
| Listed | November 12, 1982 |
| Reference number | 82001113 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Architect: Marcus F. Cummings (name partly garbled in OCR as "Marcus F. /Frestrick Cummings"); Builder: Harriet Hunt Vilas |
| Architectural style | Queen Anne |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still used as a residence for aged ladies, as originally; condition listed as excellent, with no known threats. |
| Acreage | 3.4 |
| Coordinates | 44.69895, -73.46682 (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 82001113.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7387472
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.