Baird, Matthew, Mansion
Why it's listed
Built in 1863-64 on the west side of North Broad Street, this four-story, nineteen-room brick mansion faces the street with brownstone trim and a slate mansard roof. Its design mixes Romanesque arches and corbel tables with Second Empire dormers and Italianate and Renaissance Revival detailing. The house was built for Matthew Baird, an Irish-born immigrant who began as a brickyard apprentice and later became chairman of the Baldwin Locomotive Works. The nomination credits him with inventing a device that reduced smoke from coal-burning locomotives, an improvement that helped build Baldwin's international reputation. The mansion is significant as one of the earliest large residences of Philadelphia's industrial families along North Broad Street, where manufacturers built elaborate homes in the late nineteenth century. Its rear wings and stable survive, though later alterations have changed many interior room plans and removed much of the original detailing.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house reflects Philadelphia's industrial growth in the nineteenth century through its owner, Matthew Baird, who rose from immigrant apprentice to owner of the Baldwin Locomotive Works. It also presents the house as an early example of the elegant residences built by industrialists along North Broad Street.
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 83004241, listed December 29, 1983. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 814 N. Broad St., Philadelphia |
|---|---|
| County | Philadelphia |
| Listed | December 29, 1983 |
| Reference number | 83004241 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1863-64 |
| Architectural style | Eclectic design with Romanesque characteristics, Second Empire, and Italianate and Renaissance Revival elements; the stable is Italianate |
| Areas of significance | Industry, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Alterations include a replaced front door and removed interior detailing; the condition is marked fair and altered |
| Acreage | 0.1 |
| Coordinates | 39.97525, -75.15889 (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 83004241.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6790122
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.