Titus, Willet, House
;_Roslyn,_New_York.JPG){kind=link}
Why it's listed
Built around 1860 at 1441 Old Northern Boulevard in Roslyn, this two-story frame house was constructed for Willet Titus (1827-1911), a local merchant of stoves, sheet metal and tin wares. It is a well-preserved Italianate residence with cubic massing, low-pitched hipped roofs, scroll-cut modillion cornices and a three-bay side entrance facade. A recessed north wing and double front doors framed by panelled pilasters add to its character. Inside, the first floor retains much of its original plan, including marble mantelpieces and molded plaster cornices. A small rear addition was made around 1904, when Titus's son-in-law Edward Falger ran a plumbing and heating workshop in the basement. A preservation group acquired the house in 1969 and sold it with covenants, and the porches and exterior were restored by 1972. It is one of only two surviving fully Italianate houses in Roslyn, which is why it was listed for its architecture. It now serves commercial use.
Significance in brief: The house is an intact, representative example of Italianate domestic architecture in Roslyn, with cubic massing, a three-bay side entrance facade, modillion-supported cornices and low-pitched hipped roofs. It is one of only two surviving residences in the village built entirely in the Italianate mode. It also keeps Greek Revival details typical of Italianate houses of the 1850s and 1860s.
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 86002652, listed October 2, 1986. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 1441 Old Northern Blvd., Roslyn |
|---|---|
| County | Nassau County |
| Listed | October 2, 1986 |
| Reference number | 86002652 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Italianate |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition rated good; present use is commercial (originally a residence). Porches and exterior were restored between 1969 and 1972. |
| Acreage | 0.5 |
| Coordinates | 40.80321, -73.64683 (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 86002652.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q8003697
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.