Wood, Jethro, House
Why it's listed
This two-story frame farmhouse near Poplar Ridge, New York, was built around 1800 by Jethro Wood, who farmed in Cayuga County and spent much of his adult life experimenting with plow design. The house uses a barn-like framing method, with hand-hewn vertical posts mortised and pinned to long plates that remain visible in the attic. It now has white aluminum siding, a shingled gable roof and a rubblestone foundation. Wood patented cast-iron plows in 1814 and 1819. The second model improved the moldboard for cleaner furrows and used three standardized parts, the moldboard, landside and share, so a farmer could replace one damaged piece rather than buy a whole plow. Although others in Britain and Virginia had earlier or parallel ideas, Wood's version gained wide acceptance, especially in the North. He spent heavily defending his patent against imitators. The house is recognized as the home where this work took place.
Significance in brief: Jethro Wood lived and worked here while developing and patenting his cast-iron plow with interchangeable parts (patents of 1814 and 1819). The improved moldboard design gave cleaner plowing, and standardized parts could be replaced individually. Wood's plow was widely adopted, especially in the North, and earned him recognition as a major benefactor of American agriculture.
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 66000505, listed October 15, 1966. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | NY 34B, Poplar Ridge |
|---|---|
| County | Cayuga County |
| Listed | October 15, 1966 |
| Reference number | 66000505 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1834 |
| Architect / builder | Jethro Wood |
| Areas of significance | Invention, Agriculture |
| Level of significance | National |
| National Historic Landmark | Yes, designated July 19, 1964 |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in good condition and minor alterations; house is presently vacant and the owner is contemplating its sale. Barn moved and replaced; woodshed converted to a garage. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.73765, -76.63225 (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.
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
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 66000505.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6189033
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.