Rogers Brothers Farmstead
Also known as: Cottonwood Farm; Austin Rogers House
Why it's listed
Overlooking Lake Ontario at the southeast end of Wilson's Bay, this Cape Vincent farmstead centers on a limestone house built around 1838 by pioneer settler Austin Rogers. The 1-1/2 story, side-gabled house has five bays, a central entry, corner quoining and thick coursed stone walls, typical of the local vernacular stone farmhouses built between 1830 and 1855. A frame wing was added soon after construction, and much of the original plan, plaster, doors and plank floors survive. The farm's wider importance comes from Austin's grandsons, Austin L. and Everett E. Rogers, who began growing seed crops here and in 1876 founded the Rogers Brothers Seed Company. It was among the first American firms to raise peas and beans purely for seed. The business outgrew the farm and moved to Chaumont in 1882, later expanding westward and becoming a major North American seed company. The land stayed in the Rogers family from 1836 to 1945, and parts are still farmed.
Significance in brief: The house is a good example of the mid-19th century vernacular stone farmhouse tradition of Cape Vincent. The farm is also where brothers Austin L. and Everett E. Rogers founded the Rogers Brothers Seed Company in 1876, one of the first U.S. firms to grow peas and beans commercially solely for seed. The company moved to Chaumont in 1882 and later grew into a major North American seed company.
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 98000392, listed May 11, 1998. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Dablon Point Rd., Cape Vincent |
|---|---|
| County | Jefferson County |
| Listed | May 11, 1998 |
| Reference number | 98000392 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | c.1838-1882 |
| Architect / builder | Austin Rogers |
| Architectural style | Mid-19th century (vernacular stone farmhouse) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Agriculture, Industry, Commerce, Exploration/Settlement, Architecture |
| Level of significance | National |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still used as a single dwelling; parts of the surrounding land are still farmed. No historic outbuildings survive, though below-ground remains are likely. |
| Acreage | 48.6 |
| Coordinates | 44.08092, -76.34891 (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 98000392.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7359262
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.