Youngs, Thomas, House
Why it's listed
Set on a nine-acre semi-rural lot in Pittsford, this Federal style house began in 1818 as a one and one-half story frame dwelling built by early settler Thomas Youngs in Marion, Wayne County. In 1830 Youngs, enriched by farming and milling after the Erie Canal opened, added an elegant two and one-half story main block. It keeps its symmetrical facade, twelve-over-twelve windows, leaded sidelights and transom, a bracketed stair, and finely molded fireplace surrounds. Highway widening damaged its original setting, so the house was cut into sections, moved to Mitchell Road in 1982, and reassembled with its original parts returned to their places. A 1950s fire-damaged wing was restored the same year. The house is valued as a refined example of late Federal architecture in western New York. It is also linked to the abolitionist beliefs of Youngs and his Quaker wife, Phoebe, and may have sheltered escaping slaves.
Significance in brief: The house is argued to be a distinctive example of late Federal style residential architecture in western New York, with largely intact original interior fabric. It is also associated with Thomas Youngs, a prosperous farmer and miller whose wealth grew with the Erie Canal, and with abolitionist activity and a possible Underground Railroad station.
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 93000546, listed June 24, 1993. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 50 Mitchell Rd., Pittsford |
|---|---|
| County | Monroe County |
| Listed | June 24, 1993 |
| Reference number | 93000546 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Thomas Youngs (original owner/builder); two skilled carpenters hired in 1830 (unnamed) |
| Architectural style | Federal |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Used as a single dwelling; moved to its present site in 1982 and restored in 1982-83. |
| Acreage | 9.1 |
| Coordinates | 43.08341, -77.50432 (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 93000546.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7795385
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.