Seeley, Erskine L., House
Why it's listed
Built in 1890 at 46 Main Street in Stamford, Delaware County, this two-and-one-half-story wood-frame house was constructed for Erskine L. Seeley, a leather merchant and prominent village figure who served as fire chief, village trustee and bank director. He replaced his father's earlier house on the lot. The house shows the Queen Anne style through its mix of hipped and gabled roofs, canted bay windows, scroll-sawn brackets, decorated vergeboards, a sunburst ornament in the front gable, and four small porches. Inside, an irregular plan includes a carved staircase, pocket doors, small-pane glass doors, hardwood floors and built-in pantry cabinets. Vinyl windows and some replaced porch rails are later changes, but original frames, lintels, shutters and interior finishes remain. No designer or builder has been identified, and the design may have come from a builder's catalogue. A small carriage house, later a garage, is also included. The house reflects the prosperity that followed the railroad's arrival in 1872.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is a distinctive, intact example of late nineteenth century residential architecture in Stamford, embodying the Queen Anne style through complex massing and abundant applied decoration. It retains exceptional integrity, especially in its interior plan and details. It also reflects the village's railroad and resort-era prosperity.
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 10000593, listed August 30, 2010. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 46 Main St, Stamford |
|---|---|
| County | Delaware County |
| Listed | August 30, 2010 |
| Reference number | 10000593 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1890 |
| Architectural style | Late Victorian (Queen Anne) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still used as a single dwelling; the form notes some replaced windows, porch rails and steps, but original interior finishes survive. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.40979, -74.61296 (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 10000593.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5395837
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.