York Lodge
Also known as: Bittersweet
Why it's listed
York Lodge, originally named Bittersweet, is a lakeside summer estate near Cazenovia in Madison County, New York. The property centers on an L-shaped, two-and-one-half-story frame mansion that blends Jacobethan Revival, Georgian Revival and Shingle styles. A gazebo, a Jacobethan carriage house, a gardener's cottage, a garage and two tool sheds complete the group. Philadelphian Elizabeth Wharton McKean commissioned the house in 1904 from architect George Bispham Page, and it was not finished until 1911. It was one of the most extensive estates built along the lake's eastern shore, at a time when rail links made Cazenovia a resort for wealthy city families. Page's work here is his only known commission outside Pennsylvania. Albert J. Wright, a Buffalo businessman and benefactor of the town, later owned the estate until his death in 1940. The buildings remain largely intact, inside and out, which supports the listing for architecture and social history.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it an outstanding example of the large summer mansions built by wealthy clients near Cazenovia Lake around the turn of the twentieth century. It combines Jacobethan Revival, Georgian Revival and Shingle styles and retains a high level of integrity. It was designed by Philadelphia architect George Bispham Page, whose only known commission outside Pennsylvania this was. It is also tied to the McKean family and to Buffalo banker Albert J. Wright.
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 91000872, listed July 15, 1991. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 4448 E. Lake Rd., Cazenovia |
|---|---|
| County | Madison County |
| Listed | July 15, 1991 |
| Reference number | 91000872 |
| Resource type | District |
| Period of significance | 1904-1940 |
| Architect / builder | George Bisham Page, architect; Timothly Heffernan, builder (Syracuse) |
| Architectural style | Jacobethan Revival; Georgian Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Social History |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The estate house and outbuildings retain a high degree of integrity, and the carriage house has been converted to mainly residential use. The former theater north of the house was excluded because of heavy alteration. |
| Acreage | 5.1 |
| Coordinates | 42.93922, -75.85782 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
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 91000872.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q8055492
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.