Ball, J., House
Why it's listed
This farmhouse on Route 38 in Berkshire, Tioga County, was built around 1850 and sits in open fields on a lot of under one acre. It is a two-story frame house with clapboard siding, a three-bay gabled front and a one-story side ell. Greek Revival details include broad entablatures with returns, corner pilasters, six-over-six windows and an entrance with sidelights and a transom. Twentieth-century porches, a rebuilt foundation and a fieldstone chimney are later changes. The house is considered one of the two best local examples of a vernacular form common in central and western New York but uncommon in Berkshire. A gambrel-roofed dairy barn with shiplap siding, dating from the late nineteenth or early twentieth century, also contributes. It reflects the township's move from grain, wool and livestock to milk for urban markets. An 1855 map names J. Ball as owner, probably a son of Isaac Ball, whose family may have settled the site by 1808.
Significance in brief: It is one of Berkshire's two best examples of a Greek Revival house with a gabled three-bay facade and integral side wing, a vernacular form common in central and western New York but rare in Berkshire. The gambrel-roofed dairy barn illustrates the town's shift from grain, wool and livestock to fluid milk production. The property is also tied to the prominent Ball family.
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 84003072, listed July 2, 1984. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | NY 38, Berkshire |
|---|---|
| County | Tioga County |
| Listed | July 2, 1984 |
| Reference number | 84003072 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | c. 1850 to c. 1910 |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Agriculture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still used as a residence; condition rated fair, with twentieth-century porches, a rebuilt foundation and an added exterior chimney. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.29808, -76.18578 (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 84003072.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6104789
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.