Sutton-Chapman-Howland House
Why it's listed
Set on an eleven-acre lot at 55 Main Street in Newark Valley, this clapboard house grew in stages. A small south wing, probably built in the 1820s as a rental property, was followed by a larger two-story north block built between 1835 and 1837, probably for Dr. William Sutton, who died in 1837. A woodshed wing extends from the rear. The north block holds the finest Federal details: an entrance with sidelights, a nine-light transom, fluted pilasters and a flaring stepped cornice, plus a lunette fanlight in the front gable. Inside are a curved staircase with scrollwork, fluted door frames and a parlor mantel echoing the entrance. The south and rear wings are plainer and have been altered more, including new windows, aluminum siding on the east side and added partitions. The house was listed for its architecture as an intact local example of early residential building.
Significance in brief: The house is significant for architecture as an intact, representative example of residential construction in Newark Valley. It relates to the context of settlement and early development of the village from 1791 to 1865. The north wing keeps the most elaborate Federal details and the highest degree of period integrity.
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 97001492, listed December 15, 1997. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 55 Main St., Newark Valley |
|---|---|
| County | Tioga County |
| Listed | December 15, 1997 |
| Reference number | 97001492 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | ca. 1835-1860 |
| Architectural style | Early Republic/Federal |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still used as a single dwelling; some windows, siding and interior partitions have been altered over time. |
| Acreage | 4.1 |
| Coordinates | 42.27272, -76.17405 (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 97001492.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7650201
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.