Docteur, Joseph, House
Also known as: Bldg. #13
Why it's listed
Built in 1847 by Joseph Docteur, this limestone farmhouse sits on the edge of the hamlet of Rosiere in Cape Vincent. The main block is a one-and-one-half-story, five-bay structure of regularly coursed, square-cut limestone with flat-arched lintels, projecting sills and a recessed central entrance with three raised side panels and a six-panel door. A one-story clapboard rear wing was added in the mid or late nineteenth century. Inside, the original doors, moldings, wide floorboards, hardware and fireplaces survive. Docteur bought his first 31-acre lot from Vincent LeRay in January 1847 and an adjoining 22-acre lot the next year, and the farm grew through the century. The 126-acre parcel retains a nineteenth-century barn, three early twentieth-century frame sheds and a cast-iron lamp post. The house is one of ten limestone farmhouses nominated in the town, and it represents the local vernacular use of native stone and the growing refinement of stone craftsmanship at mid-century.
Significance in brief: It is an intact representative example of early to mid-nineteenth-century vernacular masonry houses in Cape Vincent, one of ten nominated limestone farmhouses. It shows local features such as indigenous limestone, simple rectangular massing, a gable roof perpendicular to the street and a five-bay facade with center entry. Its coursed, square-cut stonework and recessed doorway show high craftsmanship.
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 85002460, listed September 27, 1985. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Rosiere Rd., Cape Vincent |
|---|---|
| County | Jefferson County |
| Listed | September 27, 1985 |
| Reference number | 85002460 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Builder: Joseph Docteur; architect unknown |
| Architectural style | Vernacular limestone farmhouse |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | In good condition; restored/renovated in 1980 and currently used as a residence. |
| Acreage | 126 |
| Coordinates | 44.11779, -76.23013 (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 85002460.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6282660
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.