Heathside Cottage
Why it's listed
Brick, one-and-one-half-story Gothic Revival cottage on the Fineview hilltop in Pittsburgh, built in the late 1850s. A signature stone on the bay facing Catoma Street carries the name Heathside Cottage. Its asymmetrical plan, steeply pointed roofs with wide bracketed eaves, and ornamental bargeboard give it a lively silhouette, reinforced by Tudor chimneys, finials, and pendants on the gables. Lancet casement windows, lancet hoodmolds, and pointed flat-sided dormer windows add variety to the facades, while a verandah runs along one side. Roof tiles are laid in varied imbrication, and light stone sills and hood molds stand out against earth-tone paint. The cottage is regarded as the only surviving High Gothic Revival cottage in Pittsburgh. It is valued for its unique form and detail, which reflect the Picturesque cottage tradition of the nineteenth century.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the cottage is the only surviving High Gothic Revival cottage in Pittsburgh and that its unique architectural form and details justify preservation. It is described as a fine example of the high Victorian Gothic period, with an asymmetrical plan and ornamental detail typical of the Picturesque cottage.
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 74001740, listed December 30, 1974. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 416 Catoma St., Pittsburgh |
|---|---|
| County | Allegheny County |
| Listed | December 30, 1974 |
| Reference number | 74001740 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1855-1860 |
| Architectural style | Gothic Revival (High Victorian Gothic / Picturesque cottage) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition is marked excellent and unaltered, at its original site. |
| Acreage | 0.5 |
| Coordinates | 40.46061, -80.00386 (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 74001740.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q15223452
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.