Lewis House
Also known as: Bldg. #21
Why it's listed
Built around 1875 at the north end of Market Street in Cape Vincent, this modest frame house faces the St. Lawrence River. It has a one-and-one-half story main block, a one-story wing with a shed roof concealed behind parapet walls, and a three-and-one-half story tower, all resting on a limestone foundation. The tower is the most prominent feature, with a Second Empire mansard roof covered in wooden fish-scale shingles, pedimented dormers, paired brackets and a cutout frieze. A porch with turned Queen Anne style posts projects from the south wall. The exterior remains fully intact, and the interior keeps its oak floorboards, baseboards and window and door surrounds. The tower's position gives river views of up to a mile in each direction. An early owner, Mr. Lewis, was a customs inspector and is thought to have watched shipping from it. The house reflects the river-based prosperity of Cape Vincent as a port and summer destination, and it is still used as a summer residence.
Significance in brief: It is described as a distinctive, intact example of a modest eclectic late nineteenth century residence in the Cape Vincent multiple resource area. Its Second Empire style tower, oriented toward the river, reflects the port and summer resort economy of the period. An early owner, a customs inspector, is thought to have used the tower to watch ship traffic.
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 85002467, listed September 27, 1985. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Market St., Cape Vincent |
|---|---|
| County | Jefferson County |
| Listed | September 27, 1985 |
| Reference number | 85002467 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Eclectic Victorian, with a Second Empire style tower and Queen Anne style porch posts |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition rated good; the building currently serves as a summer residence and its exterior remains entirely intact. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 44.12909, -76.33812 (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 85002467.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6536706
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.