Roberts, Judge Nathan S., House
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Why it's listed
Set on a landscaped 3.5-acre rise above Seneca Avenue in Canastota, this two-story frame house was built around 1820 by Nathan S. Roberts. Its south gable end has a three-bay arcaded facade with two-story fluted pilasters, a pedimented gable with a lunette, and an entrance with half-sidelights and a semi-elliptical fanlight. One-story service wings with stepped gable ends flank the main block. Inside, original room layouts, hand-carved mantelpieces, an Italian marble fireplace, cast plaster moldings and a wrought-iron newel post survive. A carriage barn, wagon shed, brick smokehouse and large barn remain behind the house. Roberts, an engineer of statewide renown, helped direct the Erie Canal through Canastota in the 1820s and worked on canal sections including the locks at Lockport. The house is described as the oldest surviving building in the village and its only example of Federal style. It was restored after a period of neglect.
Significance in brief: The house is presented as an outstanding example of high-style Federal residential architecture and the only example of its period and style in Canastota, as well as the oldest surviving building in the village. It is also tied to Judge Nathan S. Roberts, the community's founding figure and a noted engineer who helped route the Erie Canal through Canastota. Its intact outbuildings and interior detail add to its importance.
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 86001305, listed May 23, 1986. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | W. Seneca Ave., Canastota |
|---|---|
| County | Madison County |
| Listed | May 23, 1986 |
| Reference number | 86001305 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Architect unknown; builder Nathan S. Roberts |
| Architectural style | Federal |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Private residence in good condition; restored after a period of disrepair and neglect, with historic integrity virtually intact. |
| Acreage | 3.5 |
| Coordinates | 43.06842, -75.75865 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary for a privately owned home: it does not by itself restrict what an owner may do with their own money, and it does not require public access. Restrictions come from local landmark or historic-district ordinances, which are separate (how they differ).
Owner-occupied houses are not eligible for the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit, which applies to income-producing buildings, but many states offer credits for homeowners. Listing also opens the door to preservation easements and to buying a plaque. Start with what listing means for homeowners, renovating a listed house and selling one.
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 86001305.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6302605
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.