Sweetland Farmhouse
Why it's listed
Built around 1825, this one and one-half story frame farmhouse sits on a small rise along Number Nine Road, about a mile south of Cazenovia village. Clapboard siding covers the house, which rests on a fieldstone foundation. Its formal front faces east in the gable end, an unusual choice that gives it a broad, horizontal look. A center entrance with slender wooden colonnettes and a molded entablature anchors a symmetrical five-bay facade of twelve-over-twelve windows. Inside, a center-chimney plan, wide-board floors and a Federal style mantel survive. A garage, garden shed and chicken house from the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries also remain. The house was listed as a vernacular example of Federal style rural architecture, and its outbuildings and rural surroundings recall Cazenovia's farming past. Local tradition names Caleb Sweetland as an early occupant, and the Sweetland family apparently held it for generations. The builder and architect are unknown.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is an important example of vernacular Federal style rural farm architecture in Cazenovia. It is unusual for placing its formal front in the broad gable end and for its center-chimney plan. Fine entrance and interior woodwork and surviving farm outbuildings in a rural setting add 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 87001874, listed November 2, 1987. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Number Nine Rd., Cazenovia |
|---|---|
| County | Madison County |
| Listed | November 2, 1987 |
| Reference number | 87001874 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Architect and builder unknown |
| Architectural style | Vernacular Federal |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Private residence in good condition; the original use and present use are both residence. No threats are known. |
| Acreage | 1.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.91455, -75.84522 (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 87001874.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7655740
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.