Glen Haven District No. 4 School and Public Library
Why it's listed
Built in 1901 beside Skaneateles Lake in the Town of Scott, this one-story building housed both a one-room district school and a public library. Architect Ehrick Rossiter, a summer visitor to the area, donated the plans, and local builder Andrew Lieber constructed it on the site of the earlier schoolhouse. Funding came from library trustees, the school district, and patrons of the nearby Glen Haven Hotel, and the total cost was $2,300. The building has a hipped roof, wood-shingle walls, a fieldstone foundation, and two porches with Tuscan columns. Inside, the classroom and library keep beaded wainscoting, built-in bookcases, wood stoves, and period light fixtures. Its listing rests on its architecture: it is an intact example of the Shingle style and a rare school-and-library combination in Cortland County. The school remained in use until 1968, and the building now serves a historical society.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is a rare and exceptionally intact example of a combined rural school and public library, and a good representation of the Shingle style. It is described as unique in Cortland County and as a reminder of the influence of summer residents in creating a multi-purpose facility. It also reflects late nineteenth-century school design reforms such as high ceilings and many windows for air and light.
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 97000420, listed May 23, 1997. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 7325 Fair Haven Rd., Fair Haven |
|---|---|
| County | Cortland County |
| Listed | May 23, 1997 |
| Reference number | 97000420 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1901 |
| Architect / builder | Ehrick K. Rossiter/Architect; Andrew Lieber/Builder |
| Architectural style | Late Victorian/Shingle |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The school closed in 1968; the current function is listed as Recreation and Culture/Historical Society. The interior plan is described as intact. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.76081, -76.26737 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For a publicly owned building or structure, listing mainly matters when federal funds, permits or licences are involved: projects then go through Section 106 review so effects on the property are considered. Listing also strengthens applications for preservation grants and, for leased income-producing uses, can enable the federal rehabilitation tax credit.
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 97000420.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5567799
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.