Granger, Francis, House
Why it's listed
Built around 1817 at 426 North Main Street in Canandaigua, this two-story frame house sits on an 8.76-acre lot near the edge of the city, north of the historic district. It keeps its five-bay center hall plan and some Federal period details, including slender pilasters and half-sidelights at the doorway. Much else was changed in the twentieth century, including the roof, cornice, windows, porches and rear wing. The house matters for its link to Francis Granger, who moved in after marrying Cornelia Rutsen Van Rensselaer in 1817. Known as Thistlebank, it was a wedding gift from his father, Gideon Granger. Francis later served in the New York Assembly and in Congress, and he was appointed postmaster-general in 1841. The family owned the house until 1827, when Cornelia died and Francis sold it and returned to the Granger Homestead. Despite the alterations, the association with one of Canandaigua's most prominent pre-Civil War citizens gives it local historical significance.
Significance in brief: The house is tied to Francis Granger, a nationally known Whig politician and member of the prominent Granger family, who lived there from 1817 to 1827. His house, called Thistlebank, was a wedding gift from his father, Gideon Granger. The nomination argues for local significance despite heavy early twentieth-century alterations.
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 84002867, listed April 26, 1984. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 426 N. Main St., Canandaigua |
|---|---|
| County | Ontario County |
| Listed | April 26, 1984 |
| Reference number | 84002867 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1817-1827 |
| Architectural style | Federal |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Private residence in fair-to-good condition, with the same use as originally; no threats known. |
| Acreage | 8.8 |
| Coordinates | 42.90067, -77.29113 (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 84002867.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5481127
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.