Notleymere
Why it's listed
Notleymere is a three-and-one-half-story lakeside summer estate about one mile north of Cazenovia village, built between 1885 and 1889 for the Reverend Frank Norton, an Episcopal bishop. Architect Robert W. Gibson combined Queen Anne features, including steep multi-gabled roofs, tall corbelled chimneys, a polygonal turret and paired casement windows, with a skin of dark-stained wood shingles typical of the Shingle Style. Hunt & O'Brien of Syracuse built the thirty-one-room house. The interior retains oak floors, carved mantels, a central hall and stained-glass stair windows. A two-story shingled boathouse called the Hermitage, completed in 1885, stands at the water and still has its original hoists. The nominated property covers 3.1 acres and includes the house and boathouse. Former outbuildings across the road were excluded because of alterations or demolition. The estate illustrates how Cazenovia became a resort for wealthy families once rail service expanded, and it ranks among the grandest Queen Anne residences in the area.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the property is a distinguished example of the large summer mansions built near Cazenovia Lake in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. It is also a representative eclectic blend of Queen Anne and Shingle styles by architect Robert W. Gibson. It reflects Cazenovia's change from an agricultural village into a resort community for wealthy families.
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 91000868, listed July 15, 1991. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 4641 E. Lake Rd., Cazenovia |
|---|---|
| County | Madison County |
| Listed | July 15, 1991 |
| Reference number | 91000868 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1885-1889 |
| Architect / builder | Robert W. Gibson (Architect); Hunt & O'Brien (Syracuse, N.Y.) (Builder) |
| Architectural style | Queen Anne; Shingle Style |
| Criteria |
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| Areas of significance | Architecture, Social History |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Historic and current function is a single dwelling with outdoor recreation use; the boathouse is still used for boat storage and the interior is largely unaltered. |
| Acreage | 3.1 |
| Coordinates | 42.94792, -75.86260 (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 91000868.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7063086
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.