Copcutt,John,Mansion
Also known as: Saint Casimir's Rectory
Why it's listed
Built in 1854 for John Copcutt, a veneer manufacturer who became the largest dealer in imported woods in the United States, this granite mansion at 239 Nepperhan Avenue in Yonkers is an Italianate villa with a cruciform plan and a projecting central tower. Round-arched and pedimented windows, bracketed eaves and rusticated stonework mark its style. Inside, a stair hall with a elliptical light well, fluted Composite columns, plaster moldings and marble mantels survives largely intact. Copcutt's mills made up one of the earliest major industries in Yonkers, and this house is the only remaining building connected with him. Dr. Charles Leale, who attended President Lincoln, married Copcutt's daughter here. The church bought the property in 1900, used it as a convent from 1910, and has used it as a rectory since. The tower's top story and part of the front porch have been removed, but the exterior is otherwise largely unchanged. Only one other comparable Italianate villa remains in the city.
Significance in brief: The nomination presents the mansion as an architecturally and historically significant example of an Italian Villa and one of the few surviving mid-nineteenth-century buildings in Yonkers. It is tied to John Copcutt, an early industrialist whose arrival in 1845 helped turn Yonkers from an agricultural village into an industrial center. The interior retains finely detailed period decoration. It is also linked to Dr. Charles Leale, who married Copcutt's daughter in the house and was the first surgeon to reach President Lincoln at Ford's Theater.
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 85002283, listed September 12, 1985. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 239 Nepperhan Ave., Yonkers |
|---|---|
| County | Westchester County |
| Listed | September 12, 1985 |
| Reference number | 85002283 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 (specific date circa 1854) |
| Architectural style | Italianate (Italian Villa) |
| Areas of significance | Industry, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied and in excellent condition; used as a rectory by Saint Casimir's Church. The exterior is substantially intact apart from the removed tower top story and part of the front porch. |
| Acreage | 1 |
| Coordinates | 40.93546, -73.89204 (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 85002283.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6227067
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.