Paddock Building
Why it's listed
Standing on West Main Street in the heart of Malone's business district, this commercial block was built in 1848 on the site of an earlier hotel, the Amsden Hotel, which was erected in 1815 and destroyed by fire in 1844. The building is nearly square in plan, with load-bearing rubble masonry walls faced in smooth coursed local sandstone and a slate-covered gable roof. A six-bay stone arcade runs across the ground floor, and a two-story brick-faced wing extends to the rear. Because the street slopes, the front is three stories while the rear reaches three and a half. It is regarded as the oldest surviving stone commercial building in Franklin County. Its mass and restrained design reflect the taste and prosperity of Malone's merchants before the Civil War. Used for commerce since 1848, it has housed a variety of businesses, though its interior has been heavily altered over time.
Significance in brief: It is described as the oldest surviving stone commercial building in Franklin County. Its size, prominent position and restrained design reflect Malone's role as an economic center of the North Country and the prosperity of its business community before the Civil War. The local "Potsdam" sandstone facing is also noted as a landmark of the town's nineteenth-century architecture.
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 76001218, listed November 7, 1976. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 34 W. Main St., Malone |
|---|---|
| County | Franklin County |
| Listed | November 7, 1976 |
| Reference number | 76001218 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1848 |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Has always been a commercial structure; the first floor is occupied by a bookstore, and the building is described as economically viable. The interior has been altered radically, and no original window sash remains. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Malone Downtown Historic District |
| Coordinates | 44.84850, -74.29440 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
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 76001218.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7123360
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.