Pioneer Farm
Also known as: McCurdy House
Why it's listed
Pioneer Farm, also called the McCurdy House, is a substantial brick farmhouse on Route 36, known locally as Hornell Road, near Dansville in Livingston County, New York. Built about 1822, it rises two stories with a five-bay front, a central-hall plan and a rear wing that gives the building an L-shaped footprint. The brick is laid in American bond, and the gabled roof has stepped Waterford gables at each end of the main block. Stone window labels and sills, twelve-over-twelve sash upstairs and a doorway with sidelights and a fanlight are notable details. James McCurdy, a prosperous sheep farmer and son of the first settler in Dansville, erected the house on the site of the town's first dwelling. It was listed because it is a landmark in the area, is closely linked to Dansville's early history, and has survived largely intact as an example of an early nineteenth-century western New York farmhouse, although repair work is needed.
Significance in brief: The house is described as a landmark in the surrounding area and is tied to the history of Dansville. It was built by James McCurdy, son of Dansville's first settler, on the site of the town's first dwelling. It survives largely intact as an example of an early 19th century western New York farmhouse.
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 70000422, listed December 18, 1970. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | S of Dansville on NY 36, Dansville |
|---|---|
| County | Livingston County |
| Listed | December 18, 1970 |
| Reference number | 70000422 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 19th Century (c. 1822) |
| Architect / builder | James McCurdy (d. 1864), builder/owner |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed in good condition, altered, on its original site; the form notes repair work is needed and the interior is not open to the public. |
| Acreage | 0.1 |
| Coordinates | 42.55126, -77.70092 (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 70000422.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7196685
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.