Wayside Cottage
Why it's listed
Wayside Cottage is a farmhouse on the Post Road in Scarsdale, New York, whose earliest portion dates to about 1720, making it the community's oldest building. It grew in stages: a one-and-a-half-story early section, a two-and-a-half-story center section added in 1828, a late nineteenth-century caretaker's section, and a clay-tile wing built in 1928. Land on the property was once held by Caleb Heathcote, first Lord of the Manor of Scarsdale, and later by three generations of the Varian family. During the Revolution the house was occupied through British raids, and afterward it operated as a drovers' inn and a tavern where mail coaches stopped. Charles Butler's family later owned it, and Emily Butler deeded it to the village in 1919. A restoration in 1953-54 uncovered early fireplaces and framing. Today the Scarsdale Junior League looks after the property, which serves as a museum and community space.
Significance in brief: It is described as Scarsdale's oldest building and one of its most important historic resources. The house was owned by Caleb Heathcote, first Lord of the Manor of Scarsdale, and by three generations of the Varian family. It saw Revolutionary War raids and later served as a drovers' inn and tavern and a mail coach stop. Its pattern of expansion is clear and much early fabric remains.
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 81000418, listed May 1, 1981. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 1039 Post Rd., Scarsdale |
|---|---|
| County | Westchester County |
| Listed | May 1, 1981 |
| Reference number | 81000418 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Areas of significance | Exploration/Settlement |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied and used as a museum; the Scarsdale Junior League is its custodian and led a major restoration in 1953-54. Part of the building houses Junior League offices and storage. |
| Acreage | 0.7 |
| Coordinates | 40.99240, -73.79408 (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 81000418.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7976874
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.