House at 8 Berkley Drive
Why it's listed
Built in 1957 on a wooded 0.52-acre lot in a residential neighborhood of Lockport, this two-story house was designed by local architect Duane Lyman for a client who admired Frank Lloyd Wright. The main block is faced in narrow Roman brick with a limestone string-course, while the sides and rear use cedar shake and redwood boards. Low hipped roofs with deep overhangs, ribbon windows, casements and brick-and-stone planters flanking the porch echo Prairie design, though the house also resembles a midcentury ranch or split-level. A one-story garage and service wing give it an asymmetrical form. Inside, the plan wraps around a central kitchen and long hallways, a layout the nomination compares to Wright's Usonian houses. About 4,936 square feet, it keeps custom oak built-ins, an intercom, recessed lighting and colorful ceramic-tiled bathrooms. The house was listed for its architecture and its well-preserved 1950s character.
Significance in brief: The nomination presents the house as a distinctive, architect-designed midcentury residence that blends Prairie-style references with the amenities a 1950s client wanted. It was designed by Lockport native Duane Lyman for a client who admired Frank Lloyd Wright. It retains most of its original fixtures, finishes and built-in cabinetry, and its plan mixes Prairie and Usonian ideas.
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 09000287, listed May 4, 2009. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 8 Berkley Dr., Lockport |
|---|---|
| County | Niagara County |
| Listed | May 4, 2009 |
| Reference number | 09000287 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Duane Lyman (architect) |
| Architectural style | Other; midcentury house with Prairie/Wrightian references |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Currently a single dwelling and described as retaining most of its original fixtures and finishes. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 43.15751, -78.68767 (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 09000287.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14706444
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.