Niles Farmhouse
Why it's listed
This farmhouse on Rippleton Road, southwest of Cazenovia village, was built about 1807 as a rectangular two-story frame house with clapboard siding, a fieldstone foundation and a gable roof. Its symmetrical five-bay front centers on a six-panel door beneath a transom with sunburst tracery, flanked by reeded or fluted pilasters. A central chimney organizes the plan, an arrangement more common in New England than in central New York. Additions include a mid-nineteenth century wing and an early nineteenth century music room or library wing; a 1970s garage addition is modern. Inside, a Federal mantelpiece, wide plank floors and a basement brick oven survive. A late nineteenth century gambrel-roofed dairy barn stands to the west. The property was acquired in 1867 by Samuel R. Niles and Russell Olmsted and stayed in the Niles family for generations. It is listed as an early, representative Federal farmhouse that also recalls the town's agricultural past.
Significance in brief: It is a representative and early example of a Federal style farmhouse in Cazenovia, notable for its finely crafted entrance with sunburst-tracery transom and fluted pilasters. Its central chimney plan is unusual for central New York and more typical of New England. The surviving dairy barn and rural setting recall the area's agricultural 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 87001871, listed November 2, 1987. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Rippleton Rd., Cazenovia |
|---|---|
| County | Madison County |
| Listed | November 2, 1987 |
| Reference number | 87001871 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Unknown; local tradition tentatively attributes the building to Moses Barrett |
| Architectural style | Federal |
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Agriculture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Used as a residence; the barn is currently used as a garage. Condition is rated good. |
| Acreage | 2.2 |
| Coordinates | 42.91266, -75.86847 (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 87001871.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7037027
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.