Smith's, Paul, Hotel Cottages
Also known as: Paul Smith's College
Why it's listed
Three gambrel-roofed cottages stand in a row on the north shore of Lower Saint Regis Lake in Brighton, New York. Named Baker, Glover and Harriman for early occupants, they were built between about 1890 and 1894 as seasonal rentals for guests of Paul Smith's Hotel, using lumber from the hotel's own mill. Each is a two-story frame building with shingle siding, stone foundations and prominent dormers. Baker is the largest and most ornate, Glover the smallest and most altered, and Harriman retains much of its Victorian-style interior. Of fifteen original hotel cottages, five survive, and these three form the most cohesive remnant of the resort founded by Paul Smith in 1859. Guests associated with the cottages included financier Charles Carroll Glover and railroad magnate E. H. Harriman. After the main hotel burned in 1930, the buildings later became part of Paul Smith's College, serving as dormitories, a fraternity and offices. The group was recognized for its architecture and its link to Adirondack recreation history.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the cottages are an intact group of vernacular Colonial Revival buildings and the last cohesive remains of the Adirondack resort founded by Apollos A. "Paul" Smith in 1859. Smith is credited with opening the central Adirondacks to recreation. After the hotel declined, the remaining buildings became the start of Paul Smith's College.
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 99000501, listed April 29, 1999. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | NY 30, Brighton |
|---|---|
| County | Franklin County |
| Listed | April 29, 1999 |
| Reference number | 99000501 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1890-1937 |
| Architect / builder | Unknown |
| Architectural style | Late 19th & 20th Century Revivals: Colonial Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Entertainment/Recreation |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Baker Cottage and Harriman Cottage are stated to be vacant; Glover Cottage has been almost continuously occupied by college presidents and administrators since the 1940s. |
| Acreage | 2.8 |
| Coordinates | 44.43418, -74.25705 (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 99000501.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.