Starkey, Otis, House
Also known as: Bldg. #3
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Why it's listed
Built around 1820 by Otis Starkey, this two-story gabled house sits on a one-acre lot at Point and Joseph Streets in the village of Cape Vincent. Its west facade is its most distinctive feature: flush horizontal siding set within a blind arcade of four Doric pilasters joined by elliptical arches, under a shallow cornice with modillions. A lower rear wing, likely added early in the nineteenth century, has a screened porch with an arched roof echoing the facade. A late nineteenth century carriage house stands in the southeast corner of the lot. Inside, the original floor boards, doors, hardware and surrounds survive. The house was large and finely detailed for a young settlement that was growing as a port. Starkey was a merchant, the first banker in Cape Vincent, village president, town supervisor and a donor of land for St. John's Episcopal Church. Dr. Thomas Mason later lived and practiced medicine there for twenty-five years.
Significance in brief: The house is a distinctive example of formal Federal architecture in Cape Vincent and the only one there with an arcaded facade. It was very large and finely detailed for the new port settlement and reflects the prosperity of its original owner, the town's first banker. Its architectural integrity is described as exceptional.
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 85002478, listed September 27, 1985. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Point St., Cape Vincent |
|---|---|
| County | Jefferson County |
| Listed | September 27, 1985 |
| Reference number | 85002478 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Architect unknown; builder Otis Starkey |
| Architectural style | Federal |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Residential use; condition rated good; no threats known. |
| Acreage | 1 |
| Coordinates | 44.12661, -76.33457 (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 85002478.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7108830
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.