Avon Inn
Why it's listed
Avon Inn is a large two-story frame building on East Main Street in Avon, Livingston County, New York, along U.S. Route 20 one block east of the village green. Built in the 1840s as a private residence, it features a cubic main block with a nearly flat hipped roof and a monumental two-story portico of fluted Ionic columns. The entrance, with sidelights, transom, carved egg-and-dart moldings and a shell-motif medallion, was measured and drawn by architect Carl F. Schmidt. In 1882 the house became a sanitarium during Avon's mineral springs era, gaining a third story and a side wing. In 1912 it was converted into an inn and restaurant, and the Colonial Revival dining room dates from then. A 1979 fire destroyed the third story and damaged the side wing, so only the main block contributes to its architectural significance. The inn still operates as a restaurant and lodging place.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the inn is a distinguished example of mid-nineteenth century high-style Greek Revival domestic architecture in Avon, with a monumental two-story Ionic portico, five-bay center-hall facade and a deeply recessed entrance. The 1840s main block retains a high degree of integrity, along with interior features from the Greek Revival and 1912 Colonial Revival periods. Possible historical significance under Criterion A was noted but not justified.
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 91000423, listed April 16, 1991. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 55 E. Main St., Avon |
|---|---|
| County | Livingston County |
| Listed | April 16, 1991 |
| Reference number | 91000423 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1840s - 1912 |
| Architectural style | Mid-19th Century/Greek Revival; 20th Century Revival/Colonial Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Continues to operate as a restaurant and lodging facility; the west side wing, damaged in a 1979 fire, is non-historic. |
| Acreage | 1.8 |
| Within district | Avon Village Historic District |
| Coordinates | 42.91143, -77.74320 (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 91000423.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q4829210
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.