Wright, Reuben Gridley, Farm Complex
Why it's listed
Set in the northeast part of Westfield village, this farm complex grew up around a vineyard operation. Its main building is a two-story frame Queen Anne house completed in 1884 for Reuben Gridley Wright, a prominent local citizen involved in the grape industry. Enoch Curtis of Fredonia designed it, with Harry Wratten as chief carpenter. The house has a truncated hipped roof, corbelled brick chimneys, cross gables, iron cresting, scallop shingles, and many porches and balconies, while its interior keeps elaborate carved cherry woodwork. Early 1920s changes altered the verandahs and removed a porte-cochere and front dormer, but the house retains substantial integrity. Five contributing outbuildings include a barn, equipment shed, apple shed and smokehouse, auxiliary barn, and a granary converted to a residence in 1923. Three tenant houses on the property are non-contributing. The farm still operates, with much of its 72 acres under cultivation.
Significance in brief: The complex is significant as a collection of buildings tied to an extensive late nineteenth century vineyard operation. The house is a distinctive example of Queen Anne architecture designed by Fredonia architect Enoch Curtis for Reuben Gridley Wright, a prominent Westfield citizen active in the grape industry.
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 83001659, listed September 26, 1983. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 233 E. Main St., Westfield |
|---|---|
| County | Chautauqua County |
| Listed | September 26, 1983 |
| Reference number | 83001659 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Architect Enoch Curtis of Fredonia, alteration by C. Paxton Cody of Erie, Pa.; builder Harry Wratten, chief carpenter (contractor John Ard) |
| Architectural style | Queen Anne |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition is described as excellent; the property continues to function as a working farm, with much of the 72 acres still cultivated. |
| Acreage | 72 |
| Coordinates | 42.33533, -79.56396 (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 83001659.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7317456
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.