Wilcox Farmhouse
Why it's listed
Built around 1839 for Charles Wilcox, a sheep farmer from a family that settled Point Peninsula in 1818, this limestone farmhouse sits on the west shore of Chaumont Bay in Lyme. It has a two-and-a-half-story gable-front block, a lower lateral wing and a rear wing, all in coursed native limestone. The main facade uses quarry-dressed ashlar with smooth quoins, lintel courses and an elliptical gable lunette. Inside are a side-hall plan, heavy door and window trim with corner blocks, and 1870s wallpaper in the front parlor. The house is considered the finest of Lyme's stone houses and an early example of the gabled-ell plan, which became common in local farmhouses. It likely shares a master mason with the Old Stone Shop at Three Mile Bay. The farm stayed in the Wilcox family into the twentieth century and dairied until the 1960s. A privy contributes to the property; the barn and shed have deteriorated and do not.
Significance in brief: The house is argued to be an outstanding, high-style Greek Revival gabled-ell residence and the finest and last of Lyme's many early stone houses. Its smooth-cut quoins, lintel courses and elliptical gable lunette represent the peak of the local masonry tradition. It was also among the first in Lyme to use the gabled-ell plan and remains largely intact from the mid-nineteenth century.
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 90001331, listed September 6, 1990. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Carrying Place Rd., Three Mile Bay |
|---|---|
| County | Jefferson County |
| Listed | September 6, 1990 |
| Reference number | 90001331 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Architect and builder unknown |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival inspired gabled-ell plan |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Residence in fair-to-good condition; the house was vacant from 1967 to 1987 and is now occupied. The barn and shed are deteriorated. |
| Acreage | 30 |
| Coordinates | 44.05935, -76.25639 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
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 90001331.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q8000319
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.