Newton, Philo Cobblestone House
Why it's listed
This cobblestone farmhouse on Wruck Road in Hartland, Niagara County, was built around 1835-40 for Philo Newton, a Vermont native who arrived in the area in 1830 and bought land from the Holland Land Company. The one-and-one-half-story house rests on a fieldstone foundation and is built of variously sized and colored field cobbles laid in horizontal rows. Medina sandstone quoins strengthen the corners, and stone lintels and sills frame the openings. These features are typical of the Early Period of cobblestone building. It is one of roughly 47 cobblestone buildings in Niagara County. Despite the loss of some original windows and interior fabric and the addition of a rear wing, the walls remain highly intact. The property also holds significance for agriculture. Its 117.6 acres match Newton's holdings at his death in 1874 and are still farmed, although fire destroyed the main farm outbuildings in the 1970s. A well and a chicken coop survive behind the house.
Significance in brief: The house is a substantially intact, representative example of Early Period cobblestone construction in Niagara County, with field cobbles in horizontal rows, Medina sandstone quoins and plain stone lintels and sills. The farm also reflects the rural agrarian heritage of Hartland, since its acreage matches Newton's holdings as of 1874 and is still farmed.
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 02001334, listed November 15, 2002. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 3573 Wruck Rd., Hartland |
|---|---|
| County | Niagara County |
| Listed | November 15, 2002 |
| Reference number | 02001334 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1830 - 1900 |
| Architect / builder | unknown |
| Architectural style | Mid-19th Century: Greek Revival (cobblestone construction) |
| Criteria |
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| Areas of significance | Agriculture, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still used as a single dwelling. The land is still farmed. The farmstead's main historic outbuildings were destroyed by fire in the 1970s, and a well and a chicken coop survive. |
| Acreage | 117.6 |
| Coordinates | 43.22323, -78.53508 (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 02001334.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7186018
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.