Clapham-Stern House
Also known as: Wenlo
Why it's listed
Perched on a steep wooded bluff above Hempstead Harbor in Roslyn Harbor, this granite mansion was built between 1868 and 1872 for yacht designer Thomas Clapham. Architect Jacob Wrey Mould designed it in the High Victorian Gothic style, with a tower, limestone trim and a wraparound piazza. Clapham lost his fortune in the 1880s, and in 1906 department store owner Benjamin Stern bought the estate. Stern enlarged the house, gave it a French Chateau character, and added gardens, a bathhouse, greenhouses and a gatehouse. A fire in 1960 destroyed his north wing, and the house was then returned to its original footprint and Gothic look. The interior was later restored to its 1906 appearance, including an oak library. Two resources contribute to the property: the main house and a ca. 1920 bathhouse. It was listed for its place among the North Shore harbor estates and as a rare surviving Mould design that kept much of its historic fabric.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues significance under Criterion A for its link to the North Shore estate era and the creation of Roslyn Harbor as a "Millionaire Town." It is also significant under Criterion C as a surviving work by Jacob Wrey Mould that was remodeled by Benjamin Stern in 1906 and restored after a 1960 fire to its original footprint, retaining much historic fabric.
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 05000570, listed June 10, 2005. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 48 Glenwood Rd., Roslyn Harbor |
|---|---|
| County | Nassau County |
| Listed | June 10, 2005 |
| Reference number | 05000570 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1872-1955 |
| Architect / builder | Jacob Wrey Mould |
| Architectural style | High Victorian Gothic |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Exploration/Settlement, Social History, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Used as a mansion; restored after a 1960 fire, with the interior returned to its 1906 appearance apart from the kitchen. A non-contributing conservatory was added in 2002. |
| Acreage | 2.1 |
| Coordinates | 40.82095, -73.64648 (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 05000570.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5125860
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.