Fay-Usborne Mill
Why it's listed
Built in 1899 by James C. Harris at 48 Pearl Street in Westfield, this feed mill occupies the site of a nineteenth-century hotel destroyed by fire. The original portion is a two-story frame building on a raised stone foundation, with a gabled roof, a gabled cupola, a five-bay front and a shed roof over the first story. A one-and-one-half-story wing and a rear frame building, joined by a narrow shed, were added later. John R. Fay bought the property in 1913 and, with partner Thomas Usborne, expanded it from a simple feed store with a grinder into a mill with electric crushers, cereal cutters, graders, mixers and molasses blenders. It is now a plumbing and heating business, yet scales, pulleys and chutes from its milling days remain. It is the only surviving custom feed mill in the village, recalling the small local mills that served the surrounding farming region.
Significance in brief: It is a representative example of a late nineteenth-century local custom feed mill and the only such structure remaining in the village of Westfield. It is a reminder of the small milling businesses once common in this agricultural region. It keeps the form and massing of its type and interior features from its milling use.
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 83001649, listed September 26, 1983. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 48 Pearl St., Westfield |
|---|---|
| County | Chautauqua County |
| Listed | September 26, 1983 |
| Reference number | 83001649 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Architect unknown; builder James C. Harris |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition listed as excellent; now used as a plumbing and heating business, with original milling equipment still in place. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.32715, -79.57699 (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 83001649.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5438878
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.