Keeney House
Why it's listed
Set on a terraced lot in downtown LeRoy, this white clapboard house at 13 West Main Street was built in 1851 by local builder Philo L. Pierson for John G. Bixby. Its five-bay facade began as a late Federal design with Greek Revival ornament, including Doric pilasters and window cornices. In 1927 Buffalo architect Bryant Fleming renovated it in the Federal Revival style, removing the three-dimensional Greek details and the turn-of-the-century veranda, adding an elliptical fanlight, and terracing the front lawn. Inside, a long central hall, a grand staircase and Greek-style mantels survive. A large carriage house with a latticework cupola stands at the rear. The house is closely tied to the Keeney family. Calvin N. Keeney, who bought it in 1881, bred seventeen varieties of stringless bean and founded local canning and salt companies. His daughter Ruth Keeney became a notable LeRoy benefactor and helped organize the LeRoy Historical Society.
Significance in brief: The house was the lifelong home of Calvin N. Keeney, a horticulturist who bred the stringless bean, and of his daughter Ruth Keeney, a local benefactor. It is also significant architecturally: a late Federal house given Greek Revival details, then remodeled in 1927 by Buffalo architect Bryant Fleming into a Federal Revival design. It is regarded as the most imposing home in downtown LeRoy.
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 79001583, listed September 11, 1979. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 13 W. Main St, LeRoy |
|---|---|
| County | Genesee County |
| Listed | September 11, 1979 |
| Reference number | 79001583 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architect / builder | Philo Pierson, builder; Bryant Fleming (1927 renovation) |
| Architectural style | Late Federal with Greek Revival detailing; remodeled in 1927 in Federal Revival style |
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Agriculture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in excellent condition and occupied as a private residence; the carriage house is also in excellent condition. |
| Acreage | 0.8 |
| Coordinates | 42.97748, -77.99287 (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 79001583.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6382913
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.