Spaulding, Henry F., Coachman's House
Why it's listed
Built around 1880 in Riverdale, in the Bronx, this two and one-half story cottage served as the coachman's house for Parkside, the estate of Henry Foster Spaulding, within a residential development he founded in 1856. Architect Charles W. Clinton gave it board and batten siding, crossed exterior sticks that suggest a structural frame, jigsaw-trimmed dormers, twin chimneys and a polychromed slate roof. Such Stick style detailing was popular for suburban houses in the 1870s but is rare in New York City. The building was moved a short distance in 1909 when the Perkins family reworked the Wave Hill grounds, and in 1968 it was joined by a one-story addition to a smaller cottage dating from about 1860 and based on a Downing laborer's cottage design. Its setting remains close to the original. It is valued as an intact example of a style little represented in the city and as a work by Clinton.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is a substantially intact example of the Stick style, which was popular for suburban houses in the 1870s but rare in the New York City area. It is also an example of the work of architect Charles W. Clinton. It retains a picturesque setting similar to its original one despite being moved in 1909 and joined to another cottage in 1968.
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 82001093, listed November 4, 1982. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 4970 Independence Ave., New York |
|---|---|
| County | The Bronx |
| Listed | November 4, 1982 |
| Reference number | 82001093 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architect / builder | Charles W. Clinton |
| Architectural style | Picturesque cottage with Stick style influence |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied private residence; altered by non-historic additions, moved a short distance in 1909 and linked to a smaller cottage by an addition in 1968. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 40.89816, -73.91095 (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 82001093.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5721020
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.