Smith, Adon, House
Also known as: Village Office Building
Why it's listed
Built about 1850 by Adon Smith, a wealthy real estate dealer who also kept a home in New York City, this two and a half story brick house faces the village park in Hamilton at Broad and Pine Streets. Smith built homes and organized the village bank in 1853, serving as its first president. His family occupied the house until the 1930s, when it was sold to Albert Sheldon. The village bought it from Sheldon's heirs in 1943, and it first served as a USO headquarters for servicemen, then as apartments, and since 1950 as village offices. The house shows Italianate features: asymmetrically arranged rectilinear blocks, a low hip roof, overhanging eaves with large brackets, round-headed windows with hood moulds, and a glazed belvedere in place of a tower. A U-shaped porch with delicate wrought iron contrasts with the bolder elements. Its position near the park and library helps shape the village center.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is significant for its location opposite the village park, its history of uses and owners, and its representation of the Italianate style. It contributes to the character of the village center alongside the neighboring library, also a former residence.
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 74001256, listed May 2, 1974. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 3 Broad St., Hamilton |
|---|---|
| County | Madison County |
| Listed | May 2, 1974 |
| Reference number | 74001256 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 19th Century |
| Architect / builder | Adon Smith (builder/original owner) |
| Architectural style | Italianate |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Used as the village offices since 1950; condition listed as good and altered, with interior spaces divided and modernized over time. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Hamilton Village Historic District |
| Coordinates | 42.82696, -75.54306 (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 74001256.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q4684496
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.