House at 233 James Street
Why it's listed
This L-shaped frame house on the south side of James Street in Canastota was built about 1846. A two-story, two-bay main block is joined to a recessed one-story service wing, and a cross-gable roof covers both. Exaggerated cornice returns and a wide frieze mark the gable ends and cornice line, while a porch with square columns runs the length of the wing. Windows hold six-over-six sash with louvered shutters. Inside, the rooms were altered in the early twentieth century with paneling and a brick fireplace, but the room layout, openings and restrained Greek Revival moldings survive. Local tradition credits the construction to J.W. McPherson, a prominent mason. The house is regarded as a distinctive local example of Greek Revival design. It shows how rural farmhouse forms were adapted for village use, and it closely resembles a house at 313 North Main Street. A modern garage on the lot does not contribute to its character.
Significance in brief: The house is presented as a distinctive example of Greek Revival residential architecture in Canastota. Its L-shaped form, two-bay upright main block with side wing, exaggerated cornice returns and wide entablature reflect rural vernacular building traditions of the 1830s and 1840s. As a village adaptation of a farmhouse form, it recalls the community's agricultural roots.
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 86001295, listed May 23, 1986. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 233 James St., Canastota |
|---|---|
| County | Madison County |
| Listed | May 23, 1986 |
| Reference number | 86001295 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Architect unknown; builder J.W. McPherson, Canastota |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition stated as good; used as a residence, as it was originally. A modern non-contributing garage stands behind the house. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 43.07526, -75.75948 (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 86001295.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5914141
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.