Erwin Library and Pratt House
Why it's listed
On Schuyler Street in Boonville stand two neighboring buildings from the late 19th century. The Erwin Library, built in 1890 of rock-faced local limestone, has a square entrance tower, a pyramidal-roofed bay, narrow slot windows and a recessed entrance under a semicircular arch. It was funded by a bequest from Cornelius Erwin, a Bridgeport manufacturer raised in Boonville, and designed by C. L. Vivian of Ithaca in the manner of H. H. Richardson's libraries. Next door, the Pratt House of 1875 is a brick mansion with a mansard roof, bracketed cornices, a central tower with iron cresting and metal window lintels. Built for merchant Clark Dodge to designs by J. B. Lathrop of Utica, it later belonged to lumber-industry figure Charles Pratt. Its interior keeps original wall coverings, marble mantels, gas fixtures and a carved staircase. Both buildings are notable for how little they have been altered.
Significance in brief: Together they form a well-preserved record of late 19th-century eclecticism, one showing the benevolence of wealthy men and the other the prosperity of Boonville's lumber kings. The library is a Romanesque design derived from H. H. Richardson's libraries. The Pratt House is a French-influenced mansion that remains almost completely intact after a hundred years as a dwelling.
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 73001228, listed August 14, 1973. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 104 and 106 Schuyler St., Boonville |
|---|---|
| County | Oneida County |
| Listed | August 14, 1973 |
| Reference number | 73001228 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 19th Century |
| Architect / builder | C. L. Vivian of Ithaca (Erwin Library); J. B. Lathrop of Utica (Pratt House) |
| Architectural style | Romanesque (Erwin Library); French-influenced mansard style (Pratt House) |
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Education, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Both buildings are described as in excellent condition and essentially unaltered; the Pratt House is owned by the Erwin Library and Institute. |
| Acreage | 0.5 |
| Coordinates | 43.48385, -75.33658 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For a publicly owned building or structure, listing mainly matters when federal funds, permits or licences are involved: projects then go through Section 106 review so effects on the property are considered. Listing also strengthens applications for preservation grants and, for leased income-producing uses, can enable the federal rehabilitation tax credit.
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 73001228.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5396172
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.