Risley, Dr. Samuel D., House
Also known as: Gifford,Elton, B.,House
Why it's listed
Built of dressed granite from a Springfield Township quarry, this two-and-a-half storey house on the corner of 5th and Monroe Streets in Media was completed in 1877 and occupied by the spring of 1878. Its plan of projecting blocks set at varied angles around a central hall gives it the broken outline of a medieval manor, while rounded arches, a verandah with wooden arches and twisted wire trellises, and wide eaves with cross-bracing draw on Rundbogen, Gothic Revival and Swiss Chalet forms. Interior features include an oculus window of cobalt blue glass above the staircase, oak wainscoting, and several mantelpieces in marble and wood. The house was built for Elton B. Gifford, a Philadelphia dry goods executive, and was later owned by physician Dr. Samuel D. Risley, whose name became attached to it locally. Its design is regarded as one of the finest residences in the area, and it has been converted into apartments while retaining most of its historic character.
Significance in brief: The house is described as a strikingly impressive eclectic design combining several 19th-century picturesque styles, including Gothic Revival, Rundbogen, and Swiss Chalet elements. It is regarded as one of the landmark residential structures in Media and as a representative example of the period when Media was a country spa town for well-to-do Philadelphians. Its use of local Springfield granite is said to link Delaware County building traditions with broader stylistic currents.
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 90000697, listed April 26, 1990. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 430 N. Monroe St., Media |
|---|---|
| County | Delaware County |
| Listed | April 26, 1990 |
| Reference number | 90000697 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1877-1878 |
| Architectural style | Late Victorian: Gothic; eclectic combining Gothic Revival, Rundbogen, and Swiss Chalet Style elements |
| Criteria |
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| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Converted to apartments; one apartment on the first floor and two each on the second and third floors |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 39.92218, -75.38678 (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 90000697.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5304366
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.