Lorenzo
Why it's listed
Lorenzo is a brick mansion on the outskirts of Cazenovia, New York, set above Lake Cazenovia on Ledyard Street. Col. John Linklaen built it between 1807 and 1809. He was the local agent of the Holland Land Company and the founder of the village. In 1792 the company sent him to survey a 135,000-acre tract in Central New York, and the land was bought on his recommendation in the hope of profiting from maple sugar. When that plan proved unworkable, the land was sold, mainly to New Englanders, and Cazenovia grew from the settlement. The two-story house is L-shaped, with a five-bay front, a blind arcade of pilasters and elliptical arches, a pediment, and a roof balustrade. Inside are a wide center hall with a spiral stair and well-preserved trim. Relatives of Linklaen and his wife, Helen Ledyard, lived there until New York State bought it in 1968. Its furniture, paintings and family records add to its importance.
Significance in brief: The house was built by Col. John Linklaen, local agent of the Holland Land Company and founder of Cazenovia village. It is described as a particularly fine example of its style, with finely detailed woodwork and ceiling cornices. The family's furniture, decorative objects, paintings and the family and regional records kept there are also considered significant in New York history.
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 71000541, listed February 18, 1971. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Ledyard St. (U.S. 20), Cazenovia |
|---|---|
| County | Madison County |
| Listed | February 18, 1971 |
| Reference number | 71000541 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 19th Century (1807-9) |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition listed as fair, unaltered and on its original site. Occupied by the family until purchase by New York State in 1968; present use is a museum. |
| Acreage | 86 |
| Coordinates | 42.92318, -75.86523 (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 71000541.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6680834
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.