McGeer, John, House
Why it's listed
Built in 1871 at 7 Aurora Street in Moravia, this two-story brick house reflects the Italianate style popular in the village during its post-Civil War prosperity. It has a three-bay side entrance facade, relatively flat hipped roofs with bracketed cornices, elliptically arched window and door openings, original two-over-two sash, and a bracketed entrance hood. A frame rear wing, probably built at the same time, adjoins the main block. Inside, the historic floor plan, finishes and an elaborate period staircase survive. John McGeer, who operated a blacksmith shop on the property, had the house built, and he sold it in 1874 to farmer and capitalist Ebenezer Hopkins, whose family kept it until 1920. A two-story frame wagon shop built in 1884 by Patterson & Sturdevant stands at the rear. It was moved there between 1926 and 1937 and converted to an automobile garage. The property was listed for its architectural significance and its integrity.
Significance in brief: The house is argued to be an intact, representative example of Italianate residential architecture in Moravia, tied to the village's post-Civil War prosperity. It retains its distinctive period features and integrity of construction, form, materials and detailing inside and out. The 1884 wagon shop, with an Italianate-style cornice, is a contributing feature.
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 95000056, listed February 24, 1995. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 7 Aurora St., Moravia |
|---|---|
| County | Cayuga County |
| Listed | February 24, 1995 |
| Reference number | 95000056 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1871 - 1884 |
| Architect / builder | Unknown |
| Architectural style | Late Victorian: Italianate |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still used as a single dwelling; the former wagon shop now serves as a garage. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.71043, -76.42260 (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 95000056.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6247765
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.