{"nrhp_refnum":"77000968","name":"Tower Homestead and Masonic Temple","other_names":["Harding Residence and Masonic Temple"],"category":"building","location":{"address":"210 Tower St. and Sanger St.","address_restricted":false,"city":"Waterville","county":"Oneida County","state":"NY","lat":42.93085394400006,"lon":-75.38318320732948,"geom_source":"nps_gis"},"listed_date":"1977-10-05","is_nhl":false,"nhl_designated_date":null,"areas_of_significance":["Industry","Architecture"],"significance_levels":["local"],"summary":{"what_it_is":"A pair of buildings facing each other across lawns in Waterville, Oneida County, New York: the Tower Homestead, a three-part house built c. 1800, 1830 and about 1910, and a church-like residence built in 1886 by Reuben Tower II, now a Masonic Temple.","why_significant":"The two buildings recall the Tower family, wealthy Waterville residents who rose to prominence in American industry and politics. The homestead was enlarged by four generations of the family and is described as an outstanding, well-integrated residence. The church-like Tower residence, with its clock and bell tower, is called an expression of a particular personality and a well-known local landmark.","narrative":"Two buildings face each other across open lawns on a knoll west of Waterville's commercial center. The Tower Homestead combines a Federal-period wing from about 1800, a Greek Revival center built in 1830 by Reuben Tower, and a west wing added about 1910 by Charlemagne Tower II, who also modernized the house. Its grounds hold an unaltered brick law office later used as a schoolhouse, a fine barn and horse barns. Across the street stands a church-like building raised in 1886 by Reuben Tower II as his law office and home, with a 103-foot clock and bell tower and a large brick fireplace inside. The Masons bought it after his death in 1899. The Tower family rose from modest beginnings through coal, iron and railroad investments. Charlemagne Tower II later served as Minister to Austria and Ambassador to Russia and Germany. The properties were listed for their architecture and family associations.","period_of_significance":"c.1800-c.1923","architect_builder":"Reuben Tower & Charlemagne Tower, Jr. & Reuben Tower, II","architectural_style":null,"criteria":[],"status_note":"The homestead remains a private residence with outbuildings; the former Reuben Tower II residence is used as a Masonic lodge and has had minimal alteration. Condition is marked good.","vacant_flag":false,"machine_generated":true,"model":"claude-sonnet-5-5","prompt_version":"v1.0-2026-10-29","generated_at":"2026-10-29 02:50:39.426794-05","source_pdf":"https://s3.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorage/lz/electronic-records/rg-079/NPS_NY/77000968.pdf"},"photo":null,"district":null,"sources":{"nps_snapshot_date":"2026-05-22","nara_catalog":"https://catalog.archives.gov/id/75320259","wikipedia":"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tower_Homestead_and_Masonic_Temple","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q14707499"},"indexable":true,"url":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/new-york/oneida-county/tower-homestead-and-masonic-temple-77000968/"}