Wilbur House
Why it's listed
Built in 1873 at 187 South Main Street in Fairport, this Second Empire house began as the center of a thirty-acre farm. Hiram Wilbur, a successful contractor who became superintendent of section 11 of the Erie Canal, built the sixteen-room residence for a household of nine family members and two servants. The white-painted brick house has three sections, with a two-story tower, slate mansard roofs in fish-scale and octagonal patterns, cast-iron cresting, and round-arched windows with keystones. Inside, it keeps a black marble fireplace, the original main staircase, and plaster ceiling medallions. From 1937 it served as a boarding school for children with developmental disabilities that gained a national reputation, and it returned to private use in 1952. Only seven acres remain, but the carriage barn, mature trees and lawns preserve much of its setting. It was listed as one of the best surviving Second Empire houses in Monroe County.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it one of the four best surviving examples of domestic Second Empire architecture in Monroe County. Of Fairport's two outstanding examples of the style, it keeps greater site and design integrity. It is also an unusual interpretation of a farmhouse built in this formal style.
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 80002651, listed May 6, 1980. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 187 S. Main St., Fairport |
|---|---|
| County | Monroe County |
| Listed | May 6, 1980 |
| Reference number | 80002651 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architect / builder | Hiram Wilbur (builder, a contractor) |
| Architectural style | Second Empire |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in excellent condition, well maintained, and used as a private residence; the house retains a high level of integrity. |
| Acreage | 7 |
| Coordinates | 43.09440, -77.44149 (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 80002651.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q8000206
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.