House at 52 Eighteenth Avenue
Why it's listed
Built in 1895 on a narrow 40-by-60-foot lot on 18th Avenue in Sea Cliff, this two-story clapboard house was constructed as a modest single-family summer residence. It has a slate-covered hipped roof, a prominent two-bay gable end with a chamfered corner, and bay windows decorated with fishscale shingles. A raised front porch with turned posts is paired with a smaller second-floor porch with a spindle frieze and balustrade. Inside, the original oak floors, woodwork and oak stairway survive. The only exterior changes are a small back porch added in 1968 and a replaced front porch balustrade. The house is considered a representative example of the village's late Victorian resort architecture, dating from the period when Sea Cliff drew many visitors from the New York City area. Its first owner, Frederick Maidment, served as village clerk, newspaper editor and later village president. William Maidment, his brother, most likely built it.
Significance in brief: It is a representative example of Sea Cliff's late nineteenth-century Victorian summer resort architecture. Built in 1895 as a modest seasonal house at the height of the village's resort development, it keeps a high level of integrity. Its first owner, Frederick Maidment, was active in local civic affairs.
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 88000032, listed March 18, 1988. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 52 Eighteenth Ave., Sea Cliff |
|---|---|
| County | Nassau County |
| Listed | March 18, 1988 |
| Reference number | 88000032 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Architect unknown; builder most likely William Maidment, brother of original owner F. H. Maidment |
| Architectural style | Late Victorian era (eclectic mixture of Victorian design and details) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Entertainment/Recreation, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition reported as good; still used as a residence, with only a small back porch added in 1968 and the front porch balustrade replaced. |
| Acreage | 0.1 |
| Coordinates | 40.84685, -73.64998 (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 88000032.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5914390
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.