Lenox District No. 4 Schoolhouse
Also known as: Lincoln Town Hall
Why it's listed
Built in 1854 by Miles Russell, this two-story clapboard schoolhouse served Lenox District No. 4 in the hamlet of Clockville, Madison County, New York. Its post-and-beam frame sits on a concrete block foundation under a low-pitched gabled roof, with a three-bay pedimented facade, a trabeated entrance and a rooftop belfry holding the school bell bought in 1870. Inside, it was a two-classroom plan with a center entrance and cloakroom. The building was altered in 1929-1930, when stairs were moved, a furnace and bathrooms were added, and new fire-safety rules were met. A 1990s rehabilitation reversed some of those changes. It is recognized as a rare surviving mid-nineteenth century two-room schoolhouse, a vernacular Greek Revival design shaped by school-reform ideas about light, ventilation and classical styling. It reflects the community's prosperity in farming and milling and its early support for public education. It now serves as the Lincoln Town Hall.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is architecturally significant as a rare surviving mid-nineteenth century two-room schoolhouse in vernacular Greek Revival style. It represents rural school designs promoted by period educational reformers and reflects Clockville's mid-century prosperity and early commitment to public education. It retains substantial integrity of form, detailing and setting.
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 96000135, listed February 23, 1996. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Timmerman Rd. N side, at jct. with Old Co. Rd., Clockville |
|---|---|
| County | Madison County |
| Listed | February 23, 1996 |
| Reference number | 96000135 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1854 |
| Architect / builder | Russell, Miles (builder) |
| Architectural style | Mid-19th Century / Greek Revival (vernacular) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Undergoing rehabilitation in the mid-1990s for continued use as a town hall; the form says it continues to serve as the local Town Hall. |
| Acreage | 1.3 |
| Coordinates | 43.04195, -75.74185 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For a publicly owned building or structure, listing mainly matters when federal funds, permits or licences are involved: projects then go through Section 106 review so effects on the property are considered. Listing also strengthens applications for preservation grants and, for leased income-producing uses, can enable the federal rehabilitation tax credit.
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 96000135.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6523164
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.