Stone Shop, Old
Why it's listed
Built around 1838-9 on Main Street in Three Mile Bay, this one and one-half story limestone building began as a double blacksmith shop. Its walls are coursed quarry-dressed limestone, with smooth-dressed stone used for trim, a lintel course and corner quoins. The shop was started by Asa Wilcox and the young blacksmith Aura Wilson to supply metal ship parts to the Wilcox shipyard, and it held two forges, one for the yard and one for the community. Its masonry is described as some of the finest in the town of Lyme, and similar details appear on the nearby Charles Wilcox farmhouse, suggesting a common master mason. After the railroad ended the shipbuilding era in the early 1850s, the building kept working as a blacksmith shop into the twentieth century. It later became an automobile repair shop in the 1920s and a boat repair shop in the 1960s. Despite replaced doors and some replaced windows, it keeps much of its original appearance and two-room plan.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is a distinguished, intact example of mid-nineteenth century commercial masonry in Lyme, with some of the finest stonework in the town, including dressed limestone lintel courses and quoins. It is also tied to the Wilcox shipyard, which drove the growth of Three Mile Bay in the late 1830s and 1840s.
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 90001328, listed September 6, 1990. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Main St., Three Mile Bay, Chaumont |
|---|---|
| County | Jefferson County |
| Listed | September 6, 1990 |
| Reference number | 90001328 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Architect and builder unknown |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition rated good; used for storage and as boat engine repair space and office, with a boat supply and repair business using the building. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 44.08223, -76.19679 (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.
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 90001328.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7085123
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.