Stoddard-O'Connor House
Approximate location: the National Park Service places this pin arbitrarily within the property, not at a surveyed point (stated accuracy ±12 m).
Why it's listed
Built in 1898 at 5431 Shady Avenue in Lowville, this two-and-a-half-story frame house sits near the village's commercial center. Its asymmetrical massing, complex rooflines, stacked bays, half-height entry porches with turned posts, and rusticated limestone foundation reflect the Queen Anne style. Denticulated cornices, triangular pediments and classically inspired window surrounds point toward the Colonial Revival. Decorative touches include imbricated siding, stained glass lights and scroll-sawn brackets shaped like spoked wheels. Inside, the foyer and stair retain stained woodwork, a carved newel and original paneled doors. The builder was Charles Wisner & Sons, a Lowville contracting firm active from the 1880s into the 1920s. The house was the home of May Elizabeth Stoddard O'Connor and her husband Timothy. A carriage house of about 1900 stands behind it. The property was listed for its local architectural significance as an eclectic example of turn-of-the-century residential design, with its period of significance limited to the year of construction.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is locally significant architecturally as a representative example of late nineteenth century Queen Anne and Colonial Revival inspired residential design in Lowville. It combines an asymmetrical Victorian composition with emerging Colonial Revival details. Little could be found about the original occupants, so significance is limited to the 1898 construction date.
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 11000402, listed June 23, 2011. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 5431 Shady Ave., Lowville |
|---|---|
| County | Lewis County |
| Listed | June 23, 2011 |
| Reference number | 11000402 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1898 |
| Architect / builder | Charles Wisner & Sons |
| Architectural style | Late Victorian: Queen Anne; Late 19th and 20th Century Revivals: Colonial Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still used as a dwelling; the upstairs has been converted into two apartments with little change to the historic plan, and interior wallpaper was being restored. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 43.78919, -75.49049 (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 11000402.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q23092100
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.