Johnston, Capt. Simon, House
Also known as: Kemp House
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Why it's listed
Overlooking the St. Lawrence River at the corner of Riverside Drive and John Street, this Italian villa-style house stands in the middle of Clayton's downtown. Built in 1880-82 by Albert Kenyon, the area's leading builder, it was the home of Captain Simon G. Johnston, a ship captain who owned one of the largest shipyards in Clayton and much of the village land. The clapboard frame house has a three-bay facade, a central tower with a pagoda-style roof, a bracketed cornice and round-arched windows. Inside, a center hall divides four main rooms per floor. Local basswood, white oak, black walnut and white pine were used, with original millwork, hardware, wood-grain painted trim and plaster ceiling ornament. Johnston and his wife Emmeline raised six children here, and the house stayed in the family until 1962. It is considered perhaps the finest Italianate residence in the Clayton area and a landmark amid the surrounding stores, library and post office.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it a fine example of Italianate residential architecture, perhaps the finest in the Clayton area, with a wealth of original exterior and interior detail intact. It represents architectural taste after the Civil War. It is also tied to Captain Johnston, owner of one of Clayton's largest shipyards, and to builder Albert Kenyon. Its location in the downtown commercial area makes it a visual and historical landmark.
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 82003358, listed June 17, 1982. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 507 Riverside Dr., Clayton |
|---|---|
| County | Jefferson County |
| Listed | June 17, 1982 |
| Reference number | 82003358 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1880-1882 |
| Architect / builder | Albert Kenyon, Builder |
| Architectural style | Italianate (Italian villa style) |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as occupied, in excellent condition, on its original site; used as a private residence and commercial space. Roof, stoops and mechanical systems were altered in the 20th century. |
| Acreage | 0.3 |
| Coordinates | 44.24190, -76.08795 (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 82003358.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5036473
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.