Chevalier, Xavier, House
Also known as: Bldg. #14
Why it's listed
This limestone farmhouse stands on the west side of Gosier Road, south of Millens Bay in Cape Vincent. Xavier Chevalier, a French Canadian immigrant from Quebec, bought the site from Vincent LeRay in 1852 and built the house that year. The main block is a one-and-one-half-story, three-bay building of rough-cut, regularly coursed limestone with quoins, six-over-six windows, flat limestone lintels, a wide molded cornice and a simple wood post-and-lintel door surround. A mid- to late-nineteenth-century side wing has an enclosed porch, and a twentieth-century cinder-block lean-to extends from it. A limestone smokehouse and a saltbox barn remain on the 53.2-acre parcel of now inactive farmland. Among ten farmhouses nominated in the town, it is the only stone example with a front-gable plan and wide molded cornice. Together with its outbuildings and land, it illustrates the early agricultural development of the area. The property is currently vacant.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is an intact example of early to mid-nineteenth century vernacular masonry farmhouse architecture in Cape Vincent. It is the only nominated stone farmhouse with a front-gable plan and wide molded cornice, and it also has quoins and coursed rough-cut stone. With its surviving smokehouse, barn and farmland, it reflects the town's early agricultural development.
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 85002457, listed September 27, 1985. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Gosier Rd., Cape Vincent |
|---|---|
| County | Jefferson County |
| Listed | September 27, 1985 |
| Reference number | 85002457 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Architect unknown; builder Xavier Chevalier |
| Architectural style | Vernacular masonry farmhouse (early to mid-nineteenth century); Colonial Revival enclosed porch noted as an alteration |
| Areas of significance | Exploration/Settlement, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Vacant and unoccupied; condition listed as deteriorated, with the barn deteriorated but structurally sound enough to contribute. |
| Acreage | 53.2 |
| Coordinates | 44.15816, -76.24101 (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.
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 85002457.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q8043215
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.