Ives, Dr. John, House
Why it's listed
Overlooking the hamlet of Jamesville and the Seneca Turnpike, this two-story clapboard house was built about 1812-1815 on a man-made terrace on a steep slope. It was built for John Ives, a dentist who arrived from Albany around 1810. The five-bay Federal style house has a low hipped roof with a modillioned cornice, Ionic entry porches, lead garland grilles in the transoms and sidelights, a freestanding curved stair, and finely moulded woodwork. A basement kitchen keeps its cut-stone fireplace, bake oven, cherry mantel and cistern-fed stone sink. A barn and a brick smokehouse survive on the remaining six acres of an original 200-acre parcel. The nomination describes it as the finest Federal style residence in Onondaga County, noting that other local examples are more modest or have lost integrity. Later wings were removed to restore its original appearance, and the land shields it from suburban development.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is the most sophisticated documented example of Federal style domestic architecture in Onondaga County. It was built on the Seneca Turnpike soon after the road reached the county, and it shows exceptional craftsmanship for a frontier community. It also retains a high degree of architectural integrity and an intact setting.
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 85001938, listed August 29, 1985. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 6575 E. Seneca Turnpike, Jamesville |
|---|---|
| County | Onondaga County |
| Listed | August 29, 1985 |
| Reference number | 85001938 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | c. 1812-1815 |
| Architectural style | Federal |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied as a private residence; condition listed as excellent, with rear and side additions removed to restore the original appearance. |
| Acreage | 6 |
| Coordinates | 42.99077, -76.06731 (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 85001938.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5304198
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.