Hipp-Kennedy House
Why it's listed
Set on a gentle rise at the corner of Five Mile Line and Whalen Roads in Penfield, this frame house began as part of a 200-acre farm bought by John Hipp in 1804. His son John Hipp Jr. built the two-story, three-bay main block in 1838, along with a one and one-half story north wing believed to contain remnants of an earlier log dwelling. The house shows Greek Revival features such as a broad molded cornice with returns, frieze windows, six-over-six sash and a portico on massive Doric piers. In 1911, during the Kennedy family's ownership, a matching south wing was added, producing a balanced composition and reflecting early twentieth-century Neoclassical taste. Two rear wings were added around 1960. Inside, the original plan, wide board floors, shouldered door and window trim and Doric fireplace surrounds remain. The property is significant for its architecture, as a representative example of restrained rural Greek Revival design in Penfield.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is an intact, representative example of Greek Revival rural domestic architecture in Penfield, with a two-story main block, a wing, a molded cornice, frieze windows and massive Doric piers. The 1911 south wing mirrors the original north wing and reflects early twentieth-century Neoclassical revivalism. Together the phases show the change from a settlement-era farm to a twentieth-century suburban estate.
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 94000003, listed February 4, 1994. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 1931 Five Mile Run Rd., Penfield |
|---|---|
| County | Monroe County |
| Listed | February 4, 1994 |
| Reference number | 94000003 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1838-1911 |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | In use as a single-family residence; the original floor plan and many original finishes survive, and two non-historic rear wings were added in 1960. |
| Acreage | 4 |
| Coordinates | 43.14291, -77.47601 (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 94000003.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5768210
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.