Vautrin, Claude, House
Also known as: Bldg. #15
Why it's listed
Built in 1855 by farmer Claude Vautrin, this two-story limestone farmhouse stands on the east side of Mason Road in rural Cape Vincent. The square main block has a hipped roof, five bays, and walls of regularly coursed, square-cut limestone, with central entrances on the north and west sides. A shed-roofed porch carries four Italianate-style columns, and a one-story wooden rear wing, once used for storing carriages, now serves as living space. Inside, an arch on two Doric columns divides the living room. The 263-acre property remains active farmland and keeps a limestone smokehouse, a barn and four sheds from the nineteenth century. Vautrin, the son of a Frenchman who arrived in the 1830s, also ran a hotel in Rosiere. He sold the farm in 1913 to Joseph Mason, whose descendant still operates it as a dairy farm. It is distinguished among local stone farmhouses for its square plan, full height and fine masonry craftsmanship.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it one of the best intact examples of vernacular residential architecture in Cape Vincent. It is one of ten nominated stone farmhouses and the only one with a square plan, full two-story height, hipped roof and shed-roofed porch with Italianate-style posts. It also reflects the town's early agricultural development and the refinement of local stone 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 85002480, listed September 27, 1985. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Mason Rd., Cape Vincent |
|---|---|
| County | Jefferson County |
| Listed | September 27, 1985 |
| Reference number | 85002480 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Architect unknown; builder Claude Vautrin |
| Architectural style | Vernacular farmhouse with Italianate-influenced porch |
| Areas of significance | Exploration/Settlement, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in good condition and still in residential use as a working dairy farm. |
| Acreage | 263.5 |
| Coordinates | 44.14675, -76.22837 (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 85002480.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5129059
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.