Vanderbeck House
Why it's listed
Built in 1874 for Andrew A. Vanderbeck, this three-story brick house at 1295 Lake Avenue in Rochester is a Second Empire design with a slate mansard roof, sandstone foundation and tall windows. Its most distinctive features are the large round-arch dormers of the third story, framed by a curving cornice, and narrow projecting pavilions that emphasize height. A broad veranda added around 1895 balanced the original vertical massing. Vanderbeck had moved from Parma to a 200-acre farm and took part in the development of the Lake Avenue area, but he died in 1878. George Moss, editor of the Rochester Union-Advertiser, later bought the house and probably remodeled the third floor with neoclassical details. Original woodwork, marble mantels and plaster ceiling decoration survive inside. The house was converted to offices and apartments in 1959, later stood vacant, and was slated for restoration as a smaller number of residential units. It was listed for its architecture and its relatively intact condition.
Significance in brief: The nomination presents it as a distinguished and unusual variation of the Second Empire style, notable for its large round-arch third-story dormers and its relatively unaltered exterior and interior. It also reflects Rochester's post-Civil War expansion, when wealthy citizens built large estates on the city's outskirts. Later owner George Moss was a prominent local newspaper editor.
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 84002739, listed April 9, 1984. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 1295 Lake Ave., Rochester |
|---|---|
| County | Monroe County |
| Listed | April 9, 1984 |
| Reference number | 84002739 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architectural style | Second Empire |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Converted to offices and apartments in 1959; recently vacant and awaiting renovation, with a new owner planning to restore it and convert it into fewer residential units. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Maplewood Historic District (Boundary Increase) |
| Coordinates | 43.18998, -77.63026 (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.
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
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 84002739.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7914425
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.