Borodino Hall
Also known as: Borodino (Grange) Hall
Why it's listed
Borodino Hall, also known as Borodino (Grange) Hall, is a two-story timber frame building on East Lake Road in the small crossroads hamlet of Borodino, in the Town of Spafford. Built around 1835 by the First Religious Society of Borodino, it sits on a high stone basement under a shallow gabled roof, with a square tower at the ridge. Its Federal period doorway has paired raised-panel doors and a detailed entablature. Inside, a curved balcony hung from the roof trusses overlooks a two-story room with a stage. The church was sold to stockholders in 1868 and refitted as a hall, then served as Spafford's town hall until 1912 and hosted plays, concerts and dances. Grange chapters met there from 1889, and Grange #1272 bought it in 1919. The Spafford Area Historical Society acquired it in 1997 and continues restoring it as a community center. It was listed for its Federal-style architecture and its long adaptation to public uses.
Significance in brief: It is presented as an outstanding example of an early-nineteenth-century Federal period church, with a high degree of original exterior and interior character (Criterion C). It is also significant for being adapted to many public and institutional uses over 170 years, and for its role in the social life of the hamlet (Criterion A).
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 06000647, listed July 28, 2006. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 1861 E. Lake Rd., Borodino |
|---|---|
| County | Onondaga County |
| Listed | July 28, 2006 |
| Reference number | 06000647 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | Circa 1835-1954 |
| Architectural style | Early Republic: Federal |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Religion, Social History, Politics/Government |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Owned by the Spafford Area Historical Society since 1997, which has been gradually restoring it for use as a community center and performance space. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.85868, -76.33842 (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 06000647.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q4946209
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.