Little York Pavilion
Also known as: Dwyer Memorial County Park, Main Pavilion
Why it's listed
Overlooking Upper Little York Lake in Preble, Cortland County, this two-story Stick style pavilion was built for an electric railway's amusement park. The Cortland County Traction Company bought land at the head of the lake in 1904, laid out the park in 1905, and opened it on Memorial Day 1906 even though the pavilion was unfinished. The building is rectangular at its core, with surrounding verandas, a jutting corner pavilion at each corner, exposed wooden framework and light fan-shaped trusses. Cephas B. Barker, a Central New York builder, is credited with constructing it, though no record names its designer. The park declined after the 1920s, was abandoned in 1932, and became a county park in 1952 after restoration. Later repairs and alterations followed, including enclosure of the north porches. The pavilion is considered significant as a fine late Stick style design and as the only trolley park pavilion in the region still intact and in use; the Cortland Repertory Theatre has occupied the upper floor since 1972.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it a fine example of late Stick style architecture, light and simple in keeping with its rural, open-air setting. It is described as architecturally unique in the area and the only trolley park pavilion in the region to remain intact and in use. It also reflects the trolley company's development of a recreation park.
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 79001575, listed July 27, 1979. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | S of Preble off NY 281, Preble |
|---|---|
| County | Cortland County |
| Listed | July 27, 1979 |
| Reference number | 79001575 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1906 |
| Architect / builder | Cephas B. Barker |
| Architectural style | Stick style |
| Areas of significance | Landscape Architecture, Transportation, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still in use for recreation: a snack bar on the lower level and the Cortland Repertory Theatre upstairs since 1972; county-owned park, with alterations over the years. |
| Acreage | 7 |
| Coordinates | 42.71024, -76.15262 (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 79001575.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6652631
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.