Tomlinson House
Why it's listed
Perched on Kent Street as it rises toward the eastern edge of Keeseville, this two-story frame house was built in 1846 for Colonel Thomas A. Tomlinson. Its formal west front was oriented to command a view of the village and the Ausable River below. A portico of four slender Doric columns carrying a plain frieze and pediment forms the main design feature, and the front and tympanum are covered in flush board siding while the rest is clapboard. The entrance has pilasters supporting a molded pediment. In the late nineteenth century a one-story porch was added to the south side, the rear wing was extended, and the detached carriage barn was moved and joined to the house. Tomlinson established the first law practice in Keeseville in 1824, served in the state legislature and in Congress, and was Chesterfield Town Supervisor. The house is the village's only temple-style late Federal residence and reflects his status.
Significance in brief: It is Keeseville's only temple-style late Federal residence and the only local structure using a Classical portico as its main design element. It reflects the taste and community standing of Tomlinson, a prominent attorney, state legislator and congressman.
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 83001678, listed May 20, 1983. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Kent St., Keeseville |
|---|---|
| County | Essex County |
| Listed | May 20, 1983 |
| Reference number | 83001678 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Late Federal |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in good condition, in residential use, on its original site; a late nineteenth-century porch, rear wing extension and attached carriage barn were added. |
| Acreage | 2 |
| Coordinates | 44.50276, -73.47763 (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 83001678.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7819026
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.