Stone-Tolan House
Why it's listed
Built in two stages, about 1792 and 1805, this two-story frame house on East Avenue in Brighton was the home of pioneer settler Orringh Stone. The older kitchen wing was a modest four-room dwelling for his bride, and the larger Federal-style main house followed. Features include quoined corners, scalloped rake moldings, a pedimented entrance porch and a five-bay facade. Stone's home sat at the crossing of two Indian trails and served as a tavern, a farmstead and a meeting place. The founding meeting of the Town of Brighton was held there in 1814, and early church gatherings took place in the house. It is believed to be the oldest surviving structure in Monroe County. The Landmark Society of Western New York acquired it in 1956 and restored it in the early 1970s after archaeological study. The four-acre grounds include gardens, an apple orchard, a c. 1870 barn and the Seneca Indian Council Rock.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is believed to be the oldest surviving structure in Monroe County and a notable example of early regional architecture, with Federal details reflecting Stone's skill as a builder. It also served as a frontier tavern, public meeting place and farmstead, tied to the county's development before Rochester's settlement and the Erie Canal.
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 83001710, listed July 21, 1983. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 2370 E. Ave., Brighton |
|---|---|
| County | Monroe County |
| Listed | July 21, 1983 |
| Reference number | 83001710 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1700-1799 |
| Architect / builder | Unknown (built by pioneer settler Orringh Stone) |
| Architectural style | Federal |
| Areas of significance | Exploration/Settlement, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Restored in the early 1970s and operated as a museum by a preservation society; condition listed as excellent and the property is occupied. |
| Acreage | 4 |
| Coordinates | 43.13975, -77.54203 (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 83001710.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7618829
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.