Clayton Historic District
Also known as: See Also:Johnston, Capt. Simon, House
Why it's listed
Clayton's main commercial blocks, along Riverside Drive and the north end of James Street on the St. Lawrence River, form a district of thirty-one contributing buildings dating from 1854 to the 1920s. Most are two- and three-story attached rows with ground-floor shops and upper-floor residences or storage. Italianate brick and wood buildings predominate, joined by three Richardsonian Romanesque stone-faced buildings and some early twentieth century concrete block and wood structures. The earliest survivor is the 1854 Barker Building, which keeps two cast-iron storefronts and set the scale for its neighbors. The streetscape took shape through commercial growth tied to shipping, lumbering, farming and Thousand Islands tourism, and through rebuilding after fires in 1853, 1856, 1887 and 1895. Although many storefronts have been altered, pressed-metal cornices and window crowns above them remain. Little new construction since the 1920s has left a cohesive main street of a kind rarely preserved in the region. A c.1932 gas station is the only non-contributing building.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the district is one of the most intact, cohesive collections of late nineteenth and early twentieth century commercial buildings in northern New York. It reflects Clayton's growth as a mercantile center serving farms and the Thousand Islands resort trade, and its rebuilding after several fires. It is notable for intact cast-iron storefronts and a concentration of Italianate buildings.
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 85002368, listed September 12, 1985. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 203--215 & 200--326 James St., 500--544 & 507--537 Riverside Dr., Clayton |
|---|---|
| County | Jefferson County |
| Listed | September 12, 1985 |
| Reference number | 85002368 |
| Resource type | District |
| Period of significance | 1854-1920's |
| Architect / builder | Various |
| Architectural style | Italianate, with Richardsonian Romanesque buildings and early twentieth century commercial buildings |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The district remains in use as part of Clayton's only commercial area, with many storefronts altered but upper stories largely intact; the form lists the property as occupied. |
| Acreage | 4.7 |
| Coordinates | 44.24193, -76.08921 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
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 85002368.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5130254
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.