Bevier-Wright House
Why it's listed
Built around 1853 for Cornelius Bevier, this wood-frame house at 776 Chenango Street in Port Dickinson sits beside the route of the former Chenango Canal. It has a two-story main block, a cross-gabled wing and a rear service wing, with clapboard siding, a projecting cornice with returns and an entrance framed by sidelights, a transom and pilasters. A nineteenth-century barn stands on the two-acre lot. The house is regarded as a highly intact example of a small Greek Revival canal-era cottage, with symmetrical details such as blind windows that mirror the opposite side. Bevier, a grandson of an early settler, moved from farming to carpentry and broom manufacturing as the canal reshaped the village. The Wright family bought the house in 1889, and it has changed little since about 1900 apart from the loss of a porch in the 1960s. It is among the few buildings that document the village's early development.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is a highly intact example of a Greek Revival canal-era builder's cottage in Broome County. It also reflects Port Dickinson's growth from canal settlement to manufacturing and shipping center, and then to a residential suburb linked to Binghamton by streetcar. It is one of a handful of surviving properties recalling the village's early history.
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 08000446, listed May 21, 2008. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 776 Chenango St., Port Dickinson |
|---|---|
| County | Broome County |
| Listed | May 21, 2008 |
| Reference number | 08000446 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | c1853-c1900 |
| Architect / builder | unknown |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Community Planning and Development, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The house survives virtually as built, with its main alterations being the loss of a 1890s front porch and shutters; it remains a single-family dwelling. |
| Acreage | 2 |
| Coordinates | 42.13946, -75.89482 (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 08000446.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q4899648
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.