Leech-Parker Farmhouse
Why it's listed
Built around 1800 on York Street east of Lima village, this one and one-half story farmhouse reflects the New England building tradition carried west by the Leech family, who came from Connecticut in the 1790s. Ebenezer Leech, one of four brothers among Lima's earliest settlers, is believed to have built it soon after buying 61 acres. The house has a five-bay, center-entrance facade, a gable roof, and a massive central chimney around which the rooms are arranged, including two parlors, a large kitchen with a beehive oven, and an open upper floor. The heavy timber frame, floorboards and much second-floor woodwork survive, while exterior siding, windows and the front door surround were renewed during restoration. A nineteenth-century privy and a stone well with cast-iron pump also remain. Later owners included the Parker family until 1904. Its architecture and its place in early settlement patterns, with large farms set far from the village center, underlie its recognition as a rare settlement-period house in Lima.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is a representative and rare surviving example of settlement-period rural domestic architecture in the New England tradition, brought by the Leech family from Connecticut. It is also tied to one of Lima's founding families and reflects early patterns of dispersed farm settlement. Two nineteenth-century dependencies add to its significance.
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 89001116, listed August 31, 1989. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 1537 York St., Lima |
|---|---|
| County | Livingston County |
| Listed | August 31, 1989 |
| Reference number | 89001116 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | ca. 1800 to ca. 1900 |
| Architect / builder | Architect unknown; builder attributed to Ebenezer Leech |
| Architectural style | Settlement period dwelling in the New England building tradition (Federal style door surround re-created) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Exploration/Settlement, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition listed as good; the house was undergoing restoration, with new clapboard siding, windows, trim and roof, a rebuilt chimney and a stabilized foundation. It is a private residence. |
| Acreage | 2.5 |
| Coordinates | 42.91939, -77.59139 (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 89001116.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6515742
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.