Mason, Paris, Building
Also known as: Mason's Landing
Why it's listed
Built around 1840, this one-and-one-half-story limestone building at 100 North Springfield Street in Grafton was constructed by Paris Mason, brother of the town's founder, James Mason. It follows the vernacular Hall and Parlor type in a four-room variation, with rock-faced, random-coursed limestone walls, dressed limestone lintels and sills, and a standing seam metal roof. Mason built what was described as a house and warehouse after a change in control of the family's interests moved him west of the original town, and the plan could have served both uses. The building originally sat along the river's bank at Mason's Landing, though the river has since shifted about three blocks south. It was listed for its architecture as an early example of native limestone construction, dating from before the local quarry industry grew in the late 1850s. Damage from the 1993 flood exposed original plaster, split lath, brick nogging and embedded wood nailing blocks.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is a significant example of early native limestone architecture in Grafton, showing construction and workmanship from the town's earliest period. It is a vernacular four-room Hall and Parlor plan that predates the late-1850s quarry industry. It is also tied to Paris Mason, brother of Grafton's founder James Mason.
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 94000017, listed February 16, 1994. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 100 N. Springfield St., Grafton |
|---|---|
| County | Jersey County |
| Listed | February 16, 1994 |
| Reference number | 94000017 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | c. 1840 |
| Architect / builder | Unknown |
| Architectural style | Mid-19th Century; Other: Hall and Parlor (vernacular, no architectural style) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Used as a residence before the Great Flood of 1993; at the time of the form it was being dried out after flood damage, with interior finishes stripped to bare walls and studs. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 38.97057, -90.45013 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
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 94000017.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q18155723
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.