Elmwood
Also known as: Alward, William N., House
Why it's listed
Elmwood is a Greek Revival country estate on a wooded rise along Cove Road in Oyster Bay. Thomas F. Youngs, a prosperous New York City merchant, built the two-story frame house in 1836 on family land south of the village, within easy reach of his city office by steamboat or sloop. Its dominant feature is a tetrastyle Ionic portico, and the interior has a central hall, tapered and pedimented window and door frames with plaster rosettes, and black marble mantels. A two-story south wing was added around 1915 during the ownership of Charles L. Tiffany II, who was connected to Tiffany and Company. The grounds retain a gatehouse, gazebo, icehouse, greenhouse, barns, an octagonal water tower and a brick coach house of 1918. Elmwood is valued as an elegant Greek Revival residence and as an early example of the country-seat pattern in Oyster Bay, preserved with its outbuildings in a rural setting.
Significance in brief: The house was built by New York City merchant Thomas F. Youngs as a country residence and is an early example of a social and economic pattern that shaped Oyster Bay in the 19th and 20th centuries. It is described as a particularly elegant example of Greek Revival architecture in Nassau County. It also survives with its mid-19th-century dependencies in a still-rural, wooded setting, and was later owned by Charles L. Tiffany II.
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 15000030, listed February 24, 2015. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 19 N. Walnut St., Nunda |
|---|---|
| County | Livingston County |
| Listed | February 24, 2015 |
| Reference number | 15000030 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 19th Century |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in excellent condition and unaltered, and still used as a seasonal private residence. |
| Acreage | 53.7 |
| Coordinates | 42.58134, -77.93101 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
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 15000030.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q23073803
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.