Beckwith Farmhouse
Why it's listed
Set on a wooded hillside about three miles northwest of Cazenovia village, this farmhouse dates to around 1810. It is a rectangular, one-and-one-half story frame building with clapboard siding, a gable roof and a brick center chimney, a plan the nomination calls unusual in the region. The south front is asymmetrical and is marked by an ornate Federal style entrance with wood pilasters, a molded entablature, a six-panel door and a transom. Inside, original room layouts, wide board floors, a large kitchen hearth and a finely made parlor mantelpiece survive. A wing was added to the east end later in the nineteenth century. The property once reached Cazenovia Lake, and the Beckwith land was known as a popular picnic grove for summer visitors. Although the farm buildings are gone apart from two small sheds, the 27.5 remaining acres preserve a rural setting. It was listed as a modest but well-crafted vernacular Federal farmhouse.
Significance in brief: It is presented as a representative example of vernacular Federal style rural farm architecture in Cazenovia, with a finely crafted entrance and an unusual center-chimney plan for the region. Its later additions show the farm changing over time, and the surviving rural acreage illustrates the area's agricultural past. The farm also figured in the town's late nineteenth-century summer tourism.
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 87001862, listed November 2, 1987. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 4652 Syracuse Rd., Cazenovia |
|---|---|
| County | Madison County |
| Listed | November 2, 1987 |
| Reference number | 87001862 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Architect and builder unknown; local tradition credits the Beckwith family with building the house |
| Architectural style | Federal (vernacular) |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition listed as good and in use as a residence; restoration was in progress in 1987. |
| Acreage | 27.5 |
| Coordinates | 42.94690, -75.88500 (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 87001862.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q4878785
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.