Howell, Edgar W., House
Why it's listed
Built around 1889 at 52 Lexington Avenue in Buffalo, this two-and-one-half-story wood-frame house was erected by Edgar W. Howell, a member of John Howell's Sons, a firm that bottled soda and mineral waters. It sits a few doors west of Delaware Avenue, once one of the country's most prestigious addresses, on a tree-lined street of detached middle-class homes. The clapboard house has a stone foundation, a tall pyramidal hipped roof, a Colonial Revival porch with Doric piers, and a polygonal bay capped by a broken-pedimented gable. Inside, the open staircase, original oak floors and woodwork survive, and the attic rooms once housed servants. No architect has been identified, though the design resembles late 19th-century pattern-book houses. It was listed for its architecture, as an intact example of the conservative, classically influenced Free Classic eclectic style, and for its place in a well-preserved streetscape that reflects Buffalo's northward residential growth after the Civil War.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is an outstanding, intact example of Free Classic eclectic domestic architecture in Buffalo, with a high level of period integrity inside and out. Its setting on Lexington Avenue, one of the best preserved late 19th and early 20th-century streetscapes in the city, adds to its significance. It also illustrates the upper-middle-class homes built on side streets near Delaware Avenue.
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 07001203, listed November 15, 2007. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 52 Lexington Ave., Buffalo |
|---|---|
| County | Erie County |
| Listed | November 15, 2007 |
| Reference number | 07001203 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | ca. 1889-1957 |
| Architect / builder | Architect not yet identified; erected by Edgar W. Howell |
| Architectural style | Late Victorian/Free Classic-Eclectic style |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still in use as a single-family dwelling; the interior retains original oak floors, woodwork and the main staircase, and a garage was added in 1957. |
| Acreage | 0.2 |
| Within district | Delaware Park-Front Park System |
| Coordinates | 42.91292, -78.87216 (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 07001203.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5337510
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.