Moser Farm
Also known as: The Mennonite Heritage Farm
Why it's listed
Moser Farm is a 68.3-acre farmstead in Kirschnerville, Lewis County, New York, with a c1845 farmhouse, a granary and two English banked barns dated 1874. Brothers John and Joseph Moser, Mennonites who fled religious and civil persecution in France and arrived in 1833 as indentured teenagers, built the farm. The frame house has a two-story main block and a later ell added in stages, with a granite foundation and clapboard siding. Its parlor and dining room, linked by a passage, were arranged so a speaker could preach to both rooms during services. Poor soil for wheat led John Moser to dairy farming by the 1870s, and the barns reflect that change. The family hosted Amish Mennonite worship in the home until a church was built in 1912. Three generations lived here until Menno Moser died in 1988, after which the farm became the Mennonite Heritage Farm museum. It is significant for its intact agricultural buildings and its link to local Mennonite history.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the farm is a highly intact example of a vernacular nineteenth-century family dairy farm typical of the region. It is also tied to early Mennonite social history in New Bremen, since the Moser family hosted worship services in the house before a church was built in 1912. The buildings record three generations of the Moser family, from the 1840s to 1988.
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 10000516, listed July 30, 2010. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 8778 Erie Canal Rd, Kirschnerville |
|---|---|
| County | Lewis County |
| Listed | July 30, 2010 |
| Reference number | 10000516 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | c1840-1960 |
| Architect / builder | Unknown (built by Mennonite brothers Joseph and John Moser, per the narrative) |
| Architectural style | Mid 19th Century |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Social History, Agriculture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Operates as a living history museum, the Mennonite Heritage Farm, since 1988; owned by a historical society. |
| Acreage | 68.3 |
| Coordinates | 43.89339, -75.33183 (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 10000516.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6915645
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.