Central Garage
Also known as: Snyder's Tin and Hardware Shop
Why it's listed
Central Garage is a two-story frame building on Clayton Street in the center of LaFargeville, in the Town of Orleans. Built in 1902 with a shop on the ground floor and an apartment above, it was first a tin and hardware shop. Its walls are covered in brick-patterned pressed metal, and the gable front carries a full metal pediment with medallions, the date 1902 and a sign reading "Hardware Tinware Stoves & Ranges." The building went up a few years after an 1898 fire destroyed much of the commercial district. Pressed metal was then being promoted locally as an inexpensive, fire-resistant way to make a wooden building look like masonry. In the 1930s the shop became a mechanic's garage, with a large rear opening added, though the long narrow plan, original paneling and apartment layout survive. It remained in business until 1989 and is now vacant. It is valued as a rare, intact example of its type and a reminder of the hamlet's prosperity.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is a rare, largely unaltered turn-of-the-century commercial building sheathed in decorative pressed-metal siding. The metal gives a simple wooden building the look of masonry and a Classical Revival appearance. It also reflects the prosperity of an agricultural hamlet in the years after the 1898 fire.
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 96001172, listed October 18, 1996. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | N. side of Clayton St., W of jct. with Main St., Hamlet of La Fargeville, Orleans |
|---|---|
| County | Jefferson County |
| Listed | October 18, 1996 |
| Reference number | 96001172 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1902-c.1930 |
| Architect / builder | Unknown (the form notes plumber Edgar A. Wright reportedly built it, according to present owners) |
| Architectural style | Late 19th and 20th Century Revivals: Classical Revival |
| Criteria |
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| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Vacant/not in use; the building has been in disuse since 1989 but retains a high level of architectural integrity. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 44.19478, -75.96622 (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.
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
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 96001172.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5061116
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.