Dayton House
Why it's listed
Built around 1840 on Dearborn Street in Buffalo's Black Rock neighborhood, this brick house began as a Greek Revival residence with a side-hall plan, stone lintels and a sidelit entry. About 1870 a rear kitchen block and Italianate brackets were added, and the roof was reconfigured, possibly after a fire. Its early residents included Lewis Dayton, a physician who later served as Buffalo's mayor, and later Warren Henry, a superintendent at the Buffalo Malleable Iron Works, who probably commissioned the remodeling. Inside, the original layout, plank floors, mantels, staircase and trim largely survive. A later dormer and portico have affected its appearance, but they are considered reversible. A 2010 neighborhood survey found it to be one of only three remaining eligible 19th-century brick houses in Black Rock. It was listed for its architecture, as a rare example of early brick housing that reflects the area's canal-era and industrial growth.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is a rare surviving early brick residence in Black Rock, and one of only three 19th-century brick residences there to remain eligible after a 2010 survey. It shows a transition from Greek Revival to Italianate styling that mirrors the neighborhood's growth after the Erie Canal and its later industrial prosperity. Its interior remains largely intact, and later alterations are described as reversible.
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 11000739, listed October 18, 2011. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 243 Dearborn St., Buffalo |
|---|---|
| County | Erie County |
| Listed | October 18, 2011 |
| Reference number | 11000739 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | c.1840 - c.1870 |
| Architectural style | Mid 19th Century: Greek Revival, Italianate |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still used as a single dwelling. The form notes a 20th-century dormer and portico and a non-contributing rear garage. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.93794, -78.90127 (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 11000739.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5243543
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.