Richardson's Tavern
Also known as: Richardson's Canal House Inn
Why it's listed
Built about 1818 as a stop on the stage route through the Irondequoit Valley, this inn at Bushnell's Basin in Perinton grew with the Erie Canal. For two years the hamlet was the canal's western terminus, and the tavern, known as the West End of the Canal Tavern, served packet boat and stage coach passengers and housed laborers building the Great Embankment. In the 1830s it was extended east, given a frame second floor and attic, and fitted with two-story porches in the Greek Revival manner. Gould and Elias Richardson ran it from the late 1820s to the late 1830s, and their name stuck. It operated as a hotel until 1917, then became apartments, and was abandoned in 1972. A 1978 restoration, with new rubble and clapboard wings, led to its reopening as a restaurant in 1979. It is described as the last Erie Canal inn in the state still standing on canal waters.
Significance in brief: The nomination states it is the last remaining Erie Canal inn in New York State still situated on canal waters. It was closely tied to early nineteenth-century stage routes and the Erie Canal, and served as a western terminus stop for two years in the 1820s. The building also shows an evolution from Federal to Greek Revival design.
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 80002652, listed May 6, 1980. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 1474 Marsh Rd., Perinton |
|---|---|
| County | Monroe County |
| Listed | May 6, 1980 |
| Reference number | 80002652 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1818-1820's |
| Architectural style | Federal and Greek Revival |
| Areas of significance | Transportation, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Restored in 1978 and opened as a restaurant in 1979, after being abandoned in 1972; two new wings were added for kitchen and bar use. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 43.06203, -77.47692 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
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 80002652.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7330305
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.