LeRay Hotel
Approximate location: the National Park Service places this pin arbitrarily within the property, not at a surveyed point (stated accuracy ±12 m).
Why it's listed
Built in 1827-28 at the corner of Main and Noble Streets in Evans Mills, this two-story Federal style hotel was constructed of brick rather than the local limestone used for other early buildings in the area. Captain John Hoover, a noted upstate landlord, had it built on the site of an earlier tavern lost to fire. The bricks came from a nearby kiln, and the woodwork was done by a carpenter who had also worked on the LeRay Mansion. The building has a shingled gable roof, modillion cornice and oval attic windows, and a Victorian porch was added later in the nineteenth century. Little of the original interior survives. The hotel served as a stagecoach stop and became the village's center of social and political life, hosting local patrons, travellers and land investors. It is also remembered for an infamous card game involving John Van Buren. By 1982 it was unoccupied and deteriorating, with restoration planned.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is architecturally significant as an early nineteenth century Federal style commercial building that survives with few alterations to its design, craftsmanship and materials. It is also tied to the development of Evans Mills as a tavern and hotel that served as the village's center of social and political activity.
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 82001175, listed October 29, 1982. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Main and Noble Sts., Evans Mills |
|---|---|
| County | Jefferson County |
| Listed | October 29, 1982 |
| Reference number | 82001175 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architect / builder | Capt. John Hoover |
| Architectural style | Federal |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Marked unoccupied and in fair, deteriorated condition; recent deterioration and possible demolition were noted, and the owner planned restoration as a tavern with some rooms for lodging. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 44.08790, -75.80732 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
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 82001175.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6506395
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.