{"nrhp_refnum":"77000947","name":"Dansville Library","other_names":[],"category":"building","location":{"address":"200 Main St.","address_restricted":false,"city":"Dansville","county":"Livingston County","state":"NY","lat":42.56235046300003,"lon":-77.69653119399999,"geom_source":"nps_gis"},"listed_date":"1977-09-14","is_nhl":false,"nhl_designated_date":null,"areas_of_significance":["Architecture"],"significance_levels":["local"],"summary":{"what_it_is":"A two-story neoclassical frame and clapboard building at 200 Main Street in Dansville, Livingston County, New York, built in 1823-24 as a residence for Joshua Shepard and converted to a public library in 1924.","why_significant":"It was one of the most refined and stylish residences in the upper Genesee Valley for its date, and it reflects the New England building tradition brought by early settlers. It also symbolizes the wealth sought on the western frontier by a farmer/merchant. The 1920s library wing shows the design versatility of architect Claude Bragdon.","narrative":"Built in 1823-24 for Joshua Shepard, a farmer and merchant who came to Dansville from Connecticut, this large two-story frame house on Main Street was among the most refined residences in the upper Genesee Valley. Its three-bay front block is dominated by a full-width pedimented portico with four slender Doric columns, a triglyph frieze, and a modillion cornice. A one-and-a-half-story rear wing dates from the same period. In 1923 the Shepard family gave the house to the community for use as a library. A hipped-roof, two-story stack addition replaced a small south wing, with elevations drawn by Rochester architect Claude Bragdon and interiors designed by Clarence B. Cutler of Albany. A caretaker's addition followed in 1937. The conversion removed most original interior fabric, and some windows and the front doorway were rebuilt. The building remains significant as an early symbol of frontier prosperity and for its neoclassical library wing.","period_of_significance":"1823-24","architect_builder":"Unknown (original builder/architect); 1920s addition elevations by Claude Bragdon, interior alterations by Clarence B. Cutler","architectural_style":"Neoclassical, with Greek Revival and Neo-Classical Revival elements","criteria":[],"status_note":"In use as the Dansville Public Library; condition listed as excellent and altered.","vacant_flag":false,"machine_generated":true,"model":"claude-sonnet-5-5","prompt_version":"v1.0-2026-10-29","generated_at":"2026-10-29 02:50:39.605966-05","source_pdf":"https://s3.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorage/lz/electronic-records/rg-079/NPS_NY/77000947.pdf"},"photo":{"url_800":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/media/77000947/e1b131421d-800.webp","url_1600":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/media/77000947/e1b131421d-1600.webp","licence":"Public domain","author":"Pubdog (talk)","credit_html":"<a href=\"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Dansville_Library_Oct_09.JPG\" rel=\"noopener\">Pubdog (talk)</a>, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons","source_page":"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Dansville_Library_Oct_09.JPG"},"district":{"nrhp_refnum":"07000485","name":"Dansville Downtown Historic District","url":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/districts/new-york/dansville-downtown-historic-district-07000485/"},"sources":{"nps_snapshot_date":"2026-05-22","nara_catalog":"https://catalog.archives.gov/id/75318631","wikipedia":"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dansville_Library","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q4543412"},"indexable":true,"url":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/new-york/livingston-county/dansville-library-77000947/"}