Howe, Dr. John Quincy, House
Why it's listed
Built in 1869 at the corner of East Main and North Wayne Streets in Phelps, this brick house was designed in the fashionable Second Empire style for Dr. John Quincy Howe, a physician who also owned quarries, malt mills and lumber yards. He bought the lot after the Edmonston Tavern burned in 1864 and hired a local builder to construct the home. Its slate-clad Mansard roof, polychrome masonry, stone trim and attached two-story privy tower made it striking enough to be pictured in an 1876 county history. A classical verandah was added in 1908, and a wing built in the late 1890s housed a doctor's office. Inside, original room layouts, pocket doors, staircases, fireplaces and Victorian woodwork survive. The Howe family lived here for generations. The property now serves as a museum run by the Phelps Community Historical Society. It was recognized for its architecture as an outstanding local example of its style.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is an outstanding example of Second Empire domestic architecture in Phelps, with a slate-clad Mansard roof, polychrome masonry, asymmetrical massing and elaborate Victorian ornamentation. It also retains many original interior features and was built for a prominent local physician and businessman. It was featured in an 1876 county history.
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 01001564, listed February 5, 2002. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 66 Main St., Phelps |
|---|---|
| County | Ontario County |
| Listed | February 5, 2002 |
| Reference number | 01001564 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1869 - 1908 |
| Architect / builder | Moses Barlow |
| Architectural style | Late 19th century: Second Empire |
| Criteria |
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| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Now a museum open to the public, operated by the local historical society, which is rehabilitating the house and doctor's office. A non-contributing carriage house, altered in 1940, is on the parcel. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.95716, -77.05577 (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 01001564.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5304204
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.