Burnham, E. K., House
Also known as: Bldg. #19
Why it's listed
Built in 1870 on the St. Lawrence River in Cape Vincent, this three-story brick house has a three-bay main block, a hipped roof and a central belvedere. Paired brackets support the projecting cornice, and the windows have arched, bracketed hoods. A one-story entry porch with four Italianate columns marks the front, and a rear terrace has a curved limestone wall and balustrade. Inside, the original panelling, doors, hardware and light fixtures survive, along with a stairway with turned spindles and a marble fireplace in the parlor. The house was built for Erastus K. Burnham, a grain dealer, merchant and banker who owned the town's only grain elevator, headed the Bank of Cape Vincent and served as village president. The grounds keep a carriage step with granite hitching posts, plus a garage, two boathouses and a dock from 1919, when the property served as a summer residence. It is considered the best Italianate example in the area and remains a residence.
Significance in brief: The house is described as an outstanding example of Italianate residential architecture in Cape Vincent and the best example of the style in the multiple resource area. It keeps a high degree of interior and exterior integrity. Its scale and detail reflect the town's mercantile prosperity and the wealth of its first owner, banker and grain dealer Erastus K. Burnham.
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 85002456, listed September 27, 1985. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 565 Broadway, Cape Vincent |
|---|---|
| County | Jefferson County |
| Listed | September 27, 1985 |
| Reference number | 85002456 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Italianate |
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Remains in use as a residence; condition listed as good, with the original site retained and a cinder-block chimney added on the west wall. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 44.12916, -76.33287 (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 85002456.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14706249
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.