Sheldon, Hazard H., House
Also known as: Sheldon--Benham House
Why it's listed
Built in 1857 at 539 Fourth Street in Niagara Falls, this two-story, L-shaped house of dressed stone, likely quarried from the Niagara Gorge, follows the Italianate or Italian Villa mode. A low gable roof with paired brackets, a hipped porch with arched column tops, a full-height parlor bay and four-over-four windows define its exterior, while a brick kitchen block extends to the rear. Inside, the first floor keeps twelve-foot ceilings, a central foyer with the main staircase and elaborate plaster moldings. It is considered a rare local example of a style spread by A.J. Downing and pattern books. It is also tied to Hazard H. Sheldon, a lawyer who bought it in 1857 and lived there until his death in 1900. Sheldon recruited troops during the Civil War, served as captain in the 8th Heavy Artillery, held village and town offices, and helped create the 1889 village charter that led to the city of Niagara Falls.
Significance in brief: The house is argued to be locally significant under Criterion C as a rare example of the 'Italian Villa' style in Niagara County, popularized by A.J. Downing and pattern books. It is also significant under Criterion B for its association with Hazard H. Sheldon, who was active in Niagara Falls civic affairs, including Civil War recruitment and the 1889 village charter that led to the city's formation.
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 11000275, listed May 11, 2011. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 539 4th St., Niagara Falls |
|---|---|
| County | Niagara County |
| Listed | May 11, 2011 |
| Reference number | 11000275 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1857-1900 |
| Architect / builder | Unknown |
| Architectural style | Mid-19th Century: Italianate (Italian Villa) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Politics/Government |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Private single-family dwelling under ongoing restoration by its owners, with a new roof, repointed stone and window rehabilitation completed or underway, and interior plaster work still to be restored. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 43.09381, -79.05756 (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 11000275.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5687650
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.