Scheidemantel, George and Gladys, House
Why it's listed
Built around 1910 in East Aurora, this Craftsman-style house at 363 Oakwood Avenue was constructed by William Roth, head carpenter at the nearby Roycroft community, for leather craftsman George Scheidemantel and his wife Gladys. Its exterior follows an American Foursquare form, with drop siding below and shingles above, a shed-roofed dormer, an inset porch with battered posts on stone piers, and its original dark green paint. Inside, the living and dining rooms retain beamed ceilings, paneled wainscoting, built-in furniture, a fieldstone fireplace and Roycroft copper pulls. George Scheidemantel led the Roycroft Leather Shop from 1915 to 1918 and later ran his own business, and his second-floor workshop still holds his tools, benches, books and samples. The couple lived here until the 1980s, which kept the house and its furnishings remarkably intact apart from 1950s kitchen and bathroom updates. It now serves as a museum of the Roycroft movement.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is an outstanding, highly intact example of Craftsman architecture and interior decoration as practiced by the Roycrofters. It is also tied to George Scheidemantel, head of the Roycroft Leather Shop from 1915 to 1918, whose leatherworking studio survives intact on the second floor. The Scheidemantels lived there until the 1980s, so many original furnishings remain.
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 93000778, listed August 5, 1993. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 363 Oakwood Ave., East Aurora |
|---|---|
| County | Erie County |
| Listed | August 5, 1993 |
| Reference number | 93000778 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1910-1943 |
| Architect / builder | William Roth |
| Architectural style | Craftsman (combined with American Foursquare form) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Art, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Now houses the Elbert Hubbard Museum, with displays on the Roycroft movement; the house is described as preserved to an outstanding level. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.76553, -78.62141 (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 93000778.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5546660
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.