Newton, A., Farm
Why it's listed
This 99.5-acre farmstead in the hamlet of Omar, Town of Orleans, centers on a modest 1-1/2 story Greek Revival farmhouse built around 1870, a late date for the style. Around it stand eight contributing outbuildings: a hay barn, granary, blacksmith's shop, toolshed, pig barn, milk and ice house, hay and heifer barn, and horse barn. Three modern resources, a 1958 garage and toolshed and two silos, do not contribute. The farm is notable for how many historic outbuildings survive with a high level of integrity, nearly all on their original sites. The shingled horse barn and blacksmith shop are rare surviving examples of the cedar shake tradition once widespread in Jefferson County. The property appears on the 1888 atlas under the name A. Newton but not on the 1864 atlas. The same family has farmed it for over 125 years, and it continues in agricultural use, offering insight into local farming practices.
Significance in brief: The farm is significant in agriculture and architecture. It has been farmed by the same family for over 125 years and has the largest number of resources of any property in the Orleans multiple property listing. Its outbuildings retain a high level of integrity, along with its original acreage and agricultural setting, and it includes rare examples of cedar shake craftsmanship.
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 97000356, listed May 5, 1997. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | NY 180, jct. with Co. Rd. 13, Hamlet of Omar, Orleans |
|---|---|
| County | Jefferson County |
| Listed | May 5, 1997 |
| Reference number | 97000356 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | c.1870 - c.1947 |
| Architect / builder | Unknown |
| Architectural style | Mid-19th Century / Greek Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Agriculture, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still an active farm; the family continues to farm the land and use nearly all of the buildings. |
| Acreage | 99.5 |
| Coordinates | 44.26355, -75.97679 (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 97000356.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q4648212
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.