Galband du Fort, Jean Philippe, House
Also known as: Bldg. #1
Why it's listed
Built between 1818 and 1821 as a farmhouse, this one and one-half story frame house stands at the corner of James and Lake Streets in Cape Vincent. It combines two gabled blocks joined by a hyphen, with a one-story wing on the north side. The south block began as a barn and was attached to the house before 1854. Narrow clapboards, corner boards, a wide cornice with returns and Greek Revival detailing mark the exterior, while a late nineteenth century porch has Gothic Revival arches. The main interest lies in the drawing room, where a coffered ceiling holds twenty-four original oil paintings showing George Washington, the Marquis de LaFayette, Napoleon I and Chateaubriand, along with birds, angels and other motifs. French wallpaper, a chandelier, an Italian marble fireplace and a gilded Louis XVI mirror remain in place. The original owners, Jean Philippe Galband du Fort and Count Augustus du Fort, were French emigres, and an 1854 deed specifically conveyed the mirror, chandelier and mantel with the house.
Significance in brief: It is a distinctive, intact example of vernacular residential architecture from Cape Vincent's settlement period. It is also the only building in the multiple resource area known to retain elaborate original interior furnishings and decoration from the French Bonapartist immigrants who settled there after Napoleon's downfall.
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 85002463, listed September 27, 1985. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | James St., Cape Vincent |
|---|---|
| County | Jefferson County |
| Listed | September 27, 1985 |
| Reference number | 85002463 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Vernacular with Greek Revival style detailing |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in excellent condition and used as a village residence; originally a farmhouse. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 44.12609, -76.33330 (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 85002463.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6171325
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.