Watson, Sally, House
Why it's listed
Built in 1889 at 5128 Wayne Avenue in Philadelphia, this three-story house was designed by the architect Wilson Eyre, Jr. It has a partly raised basement, rubble schist stone walls on the foundation, first story and north elevation, and cedar shingle over wood frame on the upper two stories. A gambrel roof slopes steeply down to the first story, and a massive stone chimney widens into the east wall at ground level. Casement windows are grouped in picturesque arrangements, and a two-story Tudor Gothic bay window lights the stair hall. The interior has plaster walls, wood floors, a library with built-in book cabinets, and five fireplaces. The house is regarded as an excellent example of the Shingle School and an early work of Eyre. It is also valued for combining Queen Anne, Gothic, Romanesque and Renaissance elements in a creative way, including a reading nook at the stair landing.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is an excellent example of Eyre's early work and of the Shingle School style. It is said to combine several historical styles, including Queen Anne, Gothic, Romanesque and Renaissance elements, in a creative way characteristic of American eclecticism in the period.
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 82003818, listed March 10, 1982. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 5128 Wayne Ave., Philadelphia |
|---|---|
| County | Philadelphia |
| Listed | March 10, 1982 |
| Reference number | 82003818 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1889 |
| Architect / builder | Wilson Eyre, Jr. (architect) |
| Architectural style | Shingle School; Queen Anne influence |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as essentially unaltered and in good condition, with original site. |
| Acreage | 0.7 |
| Coordinates | 40.02605, -75.16955 (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 82003818.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7405326
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.