Calkins, Ellery, House
Why it's listed
Near the Delaware River in Cochecton, New York, this large two-story frame house shows the Queen Anne style at its most elaborate in the upper valley. Its present form dates to about 1890, though a house may have stood on the site as early as the 1850s. The most striking features are a three-story corner tower with a six-sided top story, a steep pyramidal roof, and colored glass windows, along with a wrap-around porch trimmed in decorative millwork. The interior keeps its original layout, with only the rear kitchen modernized. A shed and a barn from the late nineteenth century also survive. Ellery Calkins, a Cochecton native, local businessman and civic leader, built the house during his career, which was boosted by the Erie Railroad's arrival nearby. The railroad brought mass-produced millwork and fashionable styles to the valley. The house was listed for its architecture, as the best-preserved example among many simpler Queen Anne dwellings in the area.
Significance in brief: The house is argued to be a highly intact and representative example of Queen Anne residential architecture and the finest local example in the Upper Delaware Valley. It has a three-story corner tower, wrap-around porch, colored glass windows and decorative shingling. It also reflects the influence of the Erie Railroad on local building styles and the career of its builder, Ellery Calkins.
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 92001595, listed November 27, 1992. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Co. Rd. 114, E of Delaware R. Bridge, Cochecton |
|---|---|
| County | Sullivan County |
| Listed | November 27, 1992 |
| Reference number | 92001595 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | ca. 1890 (amended from the original 1850-ca. 1890) |
| Architect / builder | Ellery Calkins (builder) |
| Architectural style | Late Victorian/Queen Anne |
| Criteria |
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| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | All buildings on the property are described as in excellent condition; the house is a single dwelling in current use. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 41.70750, -75.06344 (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 92001595.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5365216
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.