Clark-Lester House
Why it's listed
Built around 1891 on Broadway in Lancaster, New York, this two and one-half-story wood frame house is a well-preserved example of Queen Anne design. It rests on a coursed rubble sandstone foundation under a cross-gable roof. The exterior combines clapboard with imbricated and square-butt shingles, an original porch with turned posts and curved brackets, a second-story balcony, and two-story bay windows. Inside, a double-run stair and most of the original woodwork survive. A two-story carriage house stands behind the house. It was built for Myron Clark and later passed to the Lester family. Levant D. Lester, a local attorney, lived there from 1911 until 1935. His daughter Olive, a University of Buffalo psychology professor and the first woman to chair a department there, lived in the house for most of her life. Its architectural integrity and its status as the Village's most distinctive Queen Anne residence led to its listing.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is a well-preserved, locally distinctive example of Queen Anne residential design from the 1890s, with a high level of architectural integrity. After the 1930s demolition of the Grimes-Davis House, it became the Village's most distinctive Queen Anne example. It is also tied to the Lester family, including Levant D. Lester, a local attorney, and his daughter Dr. Olive Lester, a University of Buffalo psychology professor.
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 99001408, listed November 30, 1999. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 5454 Broadway, Lancaster |
|---|---|
| County | Erie County |
| Listed | November 30, 1999 |
| Reference number | 99001408 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | c. 1891-1949 |
| Architectural style | Late Victorian/Queen Anne |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Current function is listed as work in progress; the interior is described as little altered from the original. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.90012, -78.66805 (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 99001408.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5127128
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.