Middle Farmhouse
Why it's listed
Built around 1820 on West Lake Road northwest of Cazenovia village, this two-story frame farmhouse has a rectangular, gable-roofed main block with a two-story wing at the rear. It was originally clapboard but is now covered in twentieth-century wood shingles. The east front has three bays, a doorway framed by narrow reeded pilasters and a molded entablature, and twelve-over-twelve windows with louvered shutters. Its original front-hall staircase survives. Most Federal houses in the town have five-bay center-hall plans or three-bay gable-end fronts, but this one places its three-bay facade on the long side wall, a "two-thirds" form common in the region and rare in Cazenovia. It is listed as a representative vernacular Federal farmhouse and as a reminder of the town's early agricultural prosperity. Local tradition links it to the Burr family and to one of three large farms on the road, which gave it the name Middle Farm. An early well also survives on the reduced 3.71-acre parcel.
Significance in brief: It is argued to be a representative example of vernacular Federal style rural farm architecture of the early nineteenth century in Cazenovia. Its three-bay facade sits on the side wall rather than the gable end, a "two-thirds" house form that is common in the region but rare in Cazenovia. An early nineteenth century well adds to its significance.
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 87001870, listed November 2, 1987. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 4875 W. Lake Rd., Cazenovia |
|---|---|
| County | Madison County |
| Listed | November 2, 1987 |
| Reference number | 87001870 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Federal (vernacular) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Private residence in good condition; a modern garage on the lot is non-contributing and no threats are known. |
| Acreage | 3.7 |
| Coordinates | 42.95803, -75.88235 (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 87001870.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6841393
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.