Johnson House
Also known as: Bldg. #9
Why it's listed
Built around 1840, this limestone farmhouse sits on Tibbetts Point Road west of Cape Vincent village, looking toward the St. Lawrence River and Wolfe Island. It is five bays wide and one and one-half stories high, made up of a main block, a side wing with a recessed porch on large turned posts, and a rear wing once used as a summer kitchen. Regularly coursed, square-cut limestone blocks, a belt course forming window lintels, and an elliptical-topped lintel over the door show the growing refinement of local stonework. Inside, original door and window surrounds, six-panel doors, wide pine floorboards and a limestone-slab basement floor survive. Two dormers added in 1955 are judged not to detract from its character. The Johnson family built the house and sold it to Charles Wilson in 1862. A barn, a shed and two corn cribs recall its farming past. It is one of ten limestone farmhouses recognized in the town.
Significance in brief: The house is argued to be an intact, representative example of early to mid-nineteenth-century vernacular masonry farmhouse architecture in Cape Vincent. It is one of ten nominated limestone farmhouses and shows local stonework through its square-cut coursed limestone, ashlar watertable, belt course and elliptical arch over the doorway. Surviving farm buildings and farmland recall the town's 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 85002466, listed September 27, 1985. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Tibbetts Point Rd., Cape Vincent |
|---|---|
| County | Jefferson County |
| Listed | September 27, 1985 |
| Reference number | 85002466 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Architect: Unknown; Builder: Unknown (built by the Johnson family) |
| Architectural style | Vernacular masonry residential architecture (limestone farmhouse) |
| Areas of significance | Exploration/Settlement, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in excellent condition, in residential use, with no known threats. Alterations in 1955 added two dormers, rebuilt the chimneys and removed a rear ell or lean-to. |
| Acreage | 10 |
| Coordinates | 44.10585, -76.35455 (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 85002466.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6268332
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.