Wood, Harry, House
Why it's listed
Set on a one-acre plot along West Main Street, west of Huntington's central business district, this house was built around 1853 for Harry Wood, a member of the locally prominent Wood family. It is a two and one-half story, five-bay dwelling with a center entrance, gable roof and clapboard siding. Interior end chimneys, gable-end windows and cornice returns shape the roofline, and the six-over-six double-hung windows have simple flush wooden trim. The central doorway has a transom, sidelights, a pent roof and a balustraded porch. The house was listed as a representative example of late settlement period architecture in the village. Its small-pane windows, plain detailing and symmetrical plan show how Huntington's conservative building practices kept a local vernacular tradition alive well into the mid-1800s. Retaining a high degree of integrity, it recalls the town's mid-nineteenth century growth. The grounds of the Huntington Country Club border the property to the north and west, and it has remained a residence.
Significance in brief: It is presented as a representative example of late settlement period architecture in Huntington. It shows the long persistence of a local vernacular building tradition with minimal decoration into the mid-nineteenth century. It retains a high degree of architectural integrity and marks the end of the area's local settlement period building tradition.
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 85002553, listed September 26, 1985. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 481 W. Main St., Huntington |
|---|---|
| County | Suffolk County |
| Listed | September 26, 1985 |
| Reference number | 85002553 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Architect unknown; builder unknown, built for Harry Wood |
| Architectural style | Late settlement period vernacular |
| Areas of significance | Exploration/Settlement, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed in excellent condition on its original site; still used as a residence, with a modern garage and shed that do not contribute. |
| Acreage | 1 |
| Coordinates | 40.87456, -73.44031 (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 85002553.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14706327
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.