Good Counsel Complex
Also known as: Convent of the Sisters of the Divine Compassion; See Also:Map
Why it's listed
Good Counsel Complex is a thirteen-acre religious and educational campus on North Broadway in White Plains, Westchester County. It was developed by the Sisters of the Divine Compassion, an order founded by Mother Mary Veronica, and its buildings date from 1856 to 1923. The grounds keep a park-like setting of lawns, mature trees and curving roads. The main buildings include a 1908 stuccoed convent, an 1897 stone chapel with a rose window and an original Odell organ, and the 1891 House of Nazareth school, all designed by Lawrence O'Conner. Two older residences, the 1867 Italianate and Second Empire "Mapleton" and the 1856 Tilford House, were absorbed into the campus. Nine buildings contribute to the district, while a 1955 house, a sports building, a bandstand and a security kiosk do not. The property was listed for its architecture, particularly the Romanesque Revival chapel and the Italian-inspired Mediterranean design of the convent and school. Today it still houses an elementary school and the sisters' convent.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the complex is a distinguished example of a late nineteenth century religious and educational campus under Criterion C. It contains regionally significant Romanesque Revival and Mediterranean Revival buildings, along with the earlier Italianate and Second Empire residence "Mapleton." It is also tied to the order's charitable and educational work for poor children.
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 97000358, listed April 25, 1997. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 52 N. Broadway, White Plains |
|---|---|
| County | Westchester County |
| Listed | April 25, 1997 |
| Reference number | 97000358 |
| Resource type | District |
| Period of significance | 1856-1923 |
| Architect / builder | O'Conner, Lawrence |
| Architectural style | Mid 19th Century/Italianate; Late 19th and Early 20th Century Revivals/Mediterranean Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The complex continues to serve as an elementary school and the home convent for the Sisters of the Divine Compassion. |
| Acreage | 13 |
| Coordinates | 41.03935, -73.76389 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
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 97000358.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5582486
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.