Akins, Lyman P., House
Why it's listed
This Greek Revival house on West Creek Road in Berkshire, Tioga County, stands on a 1.5-acre lot near the west branch of Owego Creek. Dated variously to about 1840 or 1850, it has a two-story central block with a pedimented portico and lower flanking wings, clapboard siding, simple piers, corner pilasters and broad entablatures. The center entrance has sidelights and a shouldered architrave, and the interior keeps much of its historic fabric, including a wide second-floor stair hall. It was built for Lyman Parmalee Akins (1795-1884), son of early settler Seth Akins, who served several terms as town supervisor and as justice of the peace. The house is valued as a distinctive temple-form Greek Revival design with a central door and symmetrical wings, a type less common than the side-hall or L-shaped forms. Among Berkshire's Greek Revival houses, it comes closest to a fully balanced classical composition. Changes include a twentieth-century porch, a concrete block chimney and some replaced window sash.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is a distinctive example of the Greek Revival temple-form house with a central door and symmetrical flanking wings, a type less common than other Greek Revival forms. It comes closer than any other Greek Revival house in Berkshire to a completely balanced classical composition. It was also built for Lyman P. Akins, a local town supervisor and justice of the peace.
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 84003067, listed July 2, 1984. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | W. Creek Rd., Berkshire |
|---|---|
| County | Tioga County |
| Listed | July 2, 1984 |
| Reference number | 84003067 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival (temple form with central door and symmetrical flanking wings) |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in good to fair condition and in residential use; the form notes settling of the foundation as a threat. |
| Acreage | 1.5 |
| Coordinates | 42.31469, -76.24863 (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 84003067.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6708066
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.