Bond, Col. William M. and Nancy Ralston, House
Why it's listed
Built in 1823 at 143 Ontario Street in Lockport, this brick house was begun by Col. William M. Bond and Nancy Ralston Bond about the time construction started on the Erie Canal locks that gave the city its name. It has two stories and three bays, with a one-and-one-half story side wing, a limestone rubble foundation and side gable roofs. The form recalls the Federal period, while the broad cornice and frieze, wide flat stone lintels and a doorway framed by fluted Doric columns point to the emerging Greek Revival style. The Bonds lost their Lockport holdings to debt in 1831, and the house passed to a relative, Jesse Hawley. Later owners were mostly members of the Bond and Ralston families. In 1921 it was divided into three apartments, with a spiral staircase and a rear addition, though the original plan and moldings largely survive. It is one of the earliest brick houses in Niagara County and is now used as a museum.
Significance in brief: The house is significant under Criterion C as a distinctive, intact example of early nineteenth-century domestic architecture in Lockport. Built in 1823, the year the first stone was laid for the Erie Canal locks, it is one of the earliest brick houses in Niagara County. It combines Federal-period form and massing with emerging Greek Revival features such as the broad cornice and frieze, flat stone lintels and a Doric columned entrance.
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 95000529, listed April 20, 1995. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 143 Ontario St., Lockport |
|---|---|
| County | Niagara County |
| Listed | April 20, 1995 |
| Reference number | 95000529 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1823-1921 |
| Architect / builder | unknown |
| Architectural style | Early Republic; Mid-19th Century (late Federal/early Greek Revival) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Current function is listed as museum (recreation and culture); historic function was single dwelling. Later converted to three apartments in 1921, with some alterations since reversed. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 43.17133, -78.69860 (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 95000529.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5141798
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.