Chapman, A. F., House
Why it's listed
Perched on a steep hill at the western edge of Watkins Glen, this polychrome brick house at 115 South Monroe Street overlooks the village's historic core. Local businessman Augustus H. Moore bought the lot in 1870 and built the High Victorian Gothic dwelling, completed about 1873, with a steeply pitched multi-gabled roof, asymmetrical massing, and iron cresting. Aaron F. Chapman purchased the property in 1885 and, between 1888 and 1894, added Queen Anne touches, including a front verandah and a three-story shingled tower. The interior retains its room layout, curved staircase, gas chandeliers, tiled fireplaces, oak trim, and friezes with inlaid colored glass. The house is significant as an example of late nineteenth-century domestic architecture and as a reminder of Watkins Glen's heyday as a Finger Lakes resort community. After years of deterioration, new owners began restoring the verandah and other features at the time of listing.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is a representative example of late nineteenth-century domestic architecture in Watkins Glen. It combines High Victorian Gothic features with later Queen Anne additions. Its interior survives with a high degree of integrity, and its hilltop site makes it a local landmark overlooking the village.
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 97001526, listed December 8, 1997. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 115 S. Monroe St., Watkins Glen |
|---|---|
| County | Schuyler County |
| Listed | December 8, 1997 |
| Reference number | 97001526 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1870-1894 |
| Architectural style | High Victorian Gothic; Queen Anne |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Used as a single dwelling. The front verandah was undergoing restoration at the time of the nomination after decades of neglect. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.38160, -76.87450 (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 97001526.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q4647748
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.