Akins, Robert, House
Why it's listed
Built around 1830 by Robert Akins (1799-1885), this two-story brick house sits at the corner of Main Street and Glen Road in Berkshire, Tioga County. Locally it is called the "Honey House" because an apiary was kept there for many years. The gabled house has a three-bay front, six-over-six double-hung windows with brick jack arches, and a denticulated cornice. The entrance has a replaced door but keeps its original sidelights. Four additions extend to the rear, the earliest of brick and the later ones of frame. It is the only house in Berkshire of the traditional brick Federal type with a three-bay, side entrance facade, and one of four historic brick residences built with bricks from the Stephen Ball brickyard, which operated between 1827 and 1835. Similar houses were typical in New York State between 1810 and 1835, so its later date reflects the town's relative isolation in the early nineteenth century. A modern garage on the lot is non-contributing.
Significance in brief: The house is the only example in Berkshire of a traditional brick Federal style house with a three-bay, side entrance facade. It is one of only four historic brick residences in town built with bricks from the Stephen Ball brickyard. Its late date for the type reflects Berkshire's isolation in the early nineteenth century.
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 84003069, listed July 2, 1984. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Main St., Berkshire |
|---|---|
| County | Tioga County |
| Listed | July 2, 1984 |
| Reference number | 84003069 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Builder: Robert Akins (1799-1885); architect unknown |
| Architectural style | Federal |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Present use is residential; the form lists its condition as deteriorated and notes a non-contributing modern garage on the property. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.30210, -76.18760 (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 84003069.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7341393
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.