Hill Cottage
Why it's listed
Built around 1913 on a steeply sloping lot in Saranac Lake, this wood-frame house at 36 Franklin Avenue was designed for the outdoor treatment of tuberculosis patients. It has a fieldstone foundation, wood shingle siding, a jerkin-head gable roof, deep eaves with exposed rafters, and a massive cobblestone chimney, all showing Craftsman influence. A two-story facade faces the street, while the rear rises four full stories, each with two cure porches connected to bedrooms. Porches are enclosed with sliding glass panels or fitted with sash for ventilation. Records show a nurse operating the house as a private sanatorium in 1915. By 1923 it was registered as a boarding cottage, and by 1935 it could accommodate twelve patients paying $20 to $25 weekly. Cure porches on the south side were added between 1916 and 1931. The house is valued as a well-preserved example of the cure cottages that define Saranac Lake's history as a health resort, and for its architectural integrity.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the building is an intact example of Craftsman-styled residential construction designed for curing tuberculosis patients. Its four-story bank of rear cure porches and later south-facing porches reflect long use as a private commercial sanatorium. It retains high integrity of setting, location, materials, design and association.
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 92001475, listed November 6, 1992. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 36 Franklin Ave., Saranac Lake |
|---|---|
| County | Franklin County |
| Listed | November 6, 1992 |
| Reference number | 92001475 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1913-ca.1940 |
| Architectural style | Craftsman influence (no style formally listed in the form's classification) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Health/Medicine, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Historic and current function are both listed as multiple dwelling; the form says the building retains high architectural integrity. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | New York Central Railroad Adirondack Division Historic District |
| Coordinates | 44.32671, -74.12521 (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 92001475.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5762076
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.