Seguine House
Why it's listed
Overlooking New York's lower bay on Staten Island, this stone mansion was built about 1840 by Joseph H. Seguine. It rises two and one-half stories and measures five bays long by three bays wide. Six square, paneled columns run two stories to carry a low pedimented gable and a second-floor balcony, with a semi-circular fanlight set in the pediment. The stone walls were originally covered with clapboard, and composition shingles were added after World War II. Inside are 18 rooms, with much of the plain trim intact, including eight dark marble fireplaces, six-panel doors and a center staircase. The house stood on a large farm reaching from Princess Bay to the Staten Island Rapid Transit tracks. Joseph Seguine (1801-1856) came from a family on the island since the 17th century, worked in manufacturing and shipping, and served as first president of the Staten Island Railroad. The house is valued as a plain, well-preserved example of Greek Revival design and a reminder of the island's ante-bellum country estates.
Significance in brief: The nomination presents the house as a monument to Greek Revival architecture, using the style in its simplest form with plain moldings and blocks. It also recalls the grand estates that once covered Staten Island. Its builder, Joseph Seguine, was a prominent manufacturer and shipper and the first president of the Staten Island Railroad.
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 80002761, listed May 6, 1980. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 440 Seguine Ave., New York |
|---|---|
| County | Staten Island |
| Listed | May 6, 1980 |
| Reference number | 80002761 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architect / builder | Joseph H. Seguine (builder) |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed in excellent condition, altered, on its original site; the form checks it as occupied and used as a private residence. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 40.51675, -74.19749 (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 80002761.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7446373
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.