Wright, Rueben, House
Why it's listed
This brick farmhouse at 309 East Main Street in Westfield was built for Reuben Wright, a Connecticut native who arrived in the village in 1814 and started a carding and cloth-dressing business. In 1829 he bought a farm a mile east of the village and soon began the two-story, five-bay house, a vernacular take on the Federal style. The original western section keeps its woodwork and first-floor fireplaces. A three-bay wing extends east under the same gable roof, and later wings reach toward the creek at the rear, where the sloping ground exposes a basement story. Wright deeded the property to his son Allen in 1845. Allen converted part of it into a hotel known as Drovers Inn, a resting place for settlers travelling west and a center of local activity for nearly a decade. It is Westfield's only surviving nineteenth-century tavern, and it remains a significant example of early vernacular architecture despite changes over time.
Significance in brief: It is described as one of the oldest structures in the region and an example of an early nineteenth century residence. It is also Westfield's only extant 19th-century tavern, once operated as Drovers Inn. It is a vernacular interpretation of the Federal style and retains substantial integrity.
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 83001660, listed September 26, 1983. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 309 E. Main St., Westfield |
|---|---|
| County | Chautauqua County |
| Listed | September 26, 1983 |
| Reference number | 83001660 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Vernacular interpretation of the Federal style |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still used as a residence; the form lists condition and threats as none known, and notes outbuildings of the original farm are no longer extant. |
| Acreage | 3.5 |
| Coordinates | 42.33135, -79.56027 (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 83001660.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7317533
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.