Herkimer County Jail
Why it's listed
Built in 1835 at 327 North Main Street in Herkimer, this county jail is a two-story stone building with a high basement. Its walls are ashlar limestone quarried at Little Falls and laid by masonry contractor Martin Easterbrook. The five-bay front faces Main Street under a gabled roof with a narrow cornice and an oval window in the gable. The main entrance has a Federal doorway with a broad elliptical fanlight, a stone arch and engaged columns beside the sidelights, reached by a double set of steps with an ornate cast-iron railing. A south wing, with a flat roof and Italianate bracketed eaves, repeats the quoins and window pattern of the main block. The building was recognized as an important example of the Federal style common in the Mohawk Valley and as a well-preserved part of the civic complex at Main and Court Streets. It was documented by the Historic American Buildings Survey in 1937.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it an important example of the Federal style that was popular throughout the Mohawk Valley. Its massing, proportions, detailing and quality construction are cited as architectural merits. It is also described as a well-preserved key element in the group of buildings at Main and Court Streets.
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 72000846, listed January 14, 1972. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 327 N. Main St., Herkimer |
|---|---|
| County | Herkimer County |
| Listed | January 14, 1972 |
| Reference number | 72000846 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1835 |
| Architect / builder | Martin Easterbrook, masonry contractor |
| Architectural style | Federal |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as in good condition, altered, on its original site, and owned by Herkimer County. The form marks government use. Later grant paperwork describes a restoration project covering steps, railing, doors, roof, gutters, drains and stonework repointing. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 43.02853, -74.98966 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For a publicly owned building or structure, listing mainly matters when federal funds, permits or licences are involved: projects then go through Section 106 review so effects on the property are considered. Listing also strengthens applications for preservation grants and, for leased income-producing uses, can enable the federal rehabilitation tax credit.
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 72000846.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5739254
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.