Taylor, William, House
Why it's listed
Built around 1830 at 97 South Main Street in Middleport, this two-story gable-fronted house is made of rusticated Medina sandstone with a limestone foundation and water table. A one-and-one-half-story wing extends to the south, and a two-story stone and clapboard addition was added to the east in 1871. Doric columned porches mark the entrances, and the roof has a heavy cornice with gable returns. It was built for William Taylor, an early settler and one of four men who owned the land that became the village. The stone was reportedly left over from construction of the Erie Canal, completed in 1825. The house reflects the popularity of Greek Revival style in western New York and survives as one of the few stone buildings in the village from the canal era. Inside, the hall and staircase, plaster walls, wood floors and eared moldings remain largely intact. A non-historic garage and shed on the property do not contribute to its significance.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is significant under Criterion C as an early Greek Revival residence reflecting Middleport's beginnings as an Erie Canal village. It was built with leftover stone quarried for the canal, illustrating an early locally sourced building material. It is also one of the few remaining stone structures in the village from the canal era.
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 12000998, listed December 4, 2012. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 97 S. Main St., Middleport |
|---|---|
| County | Niagara County |
| Listed | December 4, 2012 |
| Reference number | 12000998 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | Ca.1830-1871 |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Currently used as a residence; the form says few changes have been made and the house retains a high degree of integrity. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 43.20778, -78.47588 (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 12000998.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q17184145
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.