Hosmer, William and Mary, House
Why it's listed
This modest two-story frame house at 29 Washington Street in Auburn, New York, was home to William Hosmer, a Methodist minister, newspaper editor and author who campaigned against slavery. Believed to date from the 1840s and enlarged after the Civil War, it has clapboard siding, a front porch with fluted square supports, and Greek key molding around the door and front windows. A small board-and-batten barn stands at the back of the lot. Hosmer bought the property in 1851 and lived there until his death in 1889. He edited the Northern Christian Advocate, then founded the Northern Independent after his radical views alienated church leaders. His 1852 book on the higher law and the Fugitive Slave Law was dedicated to neighbor William Henry Seward. He also took part in Auburn's Underground Railroad network. The house was listed for its links to Hosmer's work in ethnic heritage, social history and communications.
Significance in brief: The house was the home of William Hosmer, an anti-slavery editor and author, from 1851 until his death in 1889. Through the Northern Christian Advocate, the Northern Independent and his book on the "higher law," he influenced abolitionist sentiment, including that of neighbor William Henry Seward. He was also part of Auburn's abolitionist and Underground Railroad network.
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 06000262, listed April 12, 2006. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 29 Washington St., Auburn |
|---|---|
| County | Cayuga County |
| Listed | April 12, 2006 |
| Reference number | 06000262 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1851-1889 |
| Architectural style | Early 19th Century: vernacular |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Black, Social History, Communications |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Historic and current function is a single-family dwelling; little historic fabric survives inside, though the room layout is largely intact. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.93230, -76.57599 (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 06000262.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q8020728
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.