Osborne House
Why it's listed
Set on a tree-shaded lot on Maple Avenue in the village of Victor, this two-story brick house with a hip roof, cupola and high stone foundation was designed in the Italianate manner by Rochester architects Merwin Austin and A.J. Warner. David Henry Osborne had it built around 1855 for himself and his wife, Lavina, on land inherited through her father, William Bushnell, Victor's first permanent resident. Its most notable exterior feature is a pair of carved wooden portico columns, and cast-iron balconies add further ornament. Inside, the original floor plan, woodwork, marble mantels and 1870s parlor decoration survive. The nominated property also includes a carriage barn, smokehouse, chicken coop and a corn crib with Greek Revival details, which together form the core of the original Osborne farm. The house is well documented by early photographs, family papers and drawings held by the Margaret Woodbury Strong Museum. It remains in use as a residence and day care center.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is significant for its architecture and its historical associations. It is an excellent early interpretation of the Italianate style by two prominent Rochester architects, Merwin Austin and A.J. Warner. It was the home of the Osborne family, one of Victor's most distinguished families, and is unusually well documented by photographs, family papers and architectural drawings.
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 80002732, listed July 11, 1980. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 146 Maple Ave., Victor |
|---|---|
| County | Ontario County |
| Listed | July 11, 1980 |
| Reference number | 80002732 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | circa 1855-1858 (1800-1899) |
| Architect / builder | Austin and Warner (Merwin Austin and A.J. Warner) |
| Architectural style | Italianate |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Used as a residence and a day care center; interior little changed and the portico altered circa 1960. |
| Acreage | 1.3 |
| Coordinates | 42.97855, -77.41028 (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 80002732.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7105793
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.