Smithville Valley Grange No. 1397
Also known as: First Universalist Society Church; Smithville Community Cente
Why it's listed
Built in 1842 as the First Universalist Society Church, this timber-frame building in Smithville Flats, Chenango County, has served since 1921 as the hall of Smithville Valley Grange No. 1397. Its design derives from the New England meetinghouse, with a front-gabled pedimented form, broad raking cornice, Doric pilasters, twin recessed entrances and twenty-over-twenty windows topped by pointed-arched louvers. The original steeple was removed in the 1930s and a small addition was built at the rear in 1996. Inside, a second floor was added at gallery level in the early 1920s to suit grange needs, while original floors, a ceiling medallion and other fragments survive. The Universalist society was small, and the Methodists later rented the building until 1921. The grange, organized in 1916, used the hall for cooperative purchasing, public debates, dances, dinners and community events. The building is valued for its intact exterior and its record of both church and grange use.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues significance under Criteria A and C. The exterior keeps a distinctive, intact vernacular Greek Revival design with twin entrances and original windows. Since 1921 the building has also served as the social and public center of the town's agricultural community.
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 98001009, listed August 6, 1998. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | NY 41, Smithville Flats |
|---|---|
| County | Chenango County |
| Listed | August 6, 1998 |
| Reference number | 98001009 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1842-1921 |
| Architect / builder | unknown |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Agriculture, Social History, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still used as a grange hall; the grange has carried out a restoration program in recent years, and a small rear addition was built in 1996. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.39911, -75.80867 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
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 98001009.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7545680
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.