Warner, Oliver, Farmstead
Why it's listed
Along Route 488 on the Phelps and Hopewell town line, this 203-acre farm centers on a cobblestone farmhouse dated 1840 on a stone in its front gable. Construction may have begun in the 1820s and continued over several years. The two-story main block and its side wing are faced with rounded stones laid in even horizontal courses with V-shaped mortar joints. The front door, framed by cut-stone Doric columns and a shell-like fanlight, is described as unique in Ontario County. Italianate porch and rear additions followed in the late 1860s or early 1870s under Daniel D. Tompkins Warner, son of Oliver Warner, who is credited with the house. A tripartite barn and a machine shed/wagon house survive from the nineteenth century. The acreage matches the holdings assembled by 1867 and was farmed for sheep, hogs, orchard fruit and field crops. The property stayed in the Warner family until 1947 and still operates as a dairy farm.
Significance in brief: The farmhouse is argued to be an outstanding example of western New York cobblestone architecture from the middle period of the tradition, and a distinctive late Federal/early Greek Revival house with a Palladian-inspired cut-stone entrance. The farm also keeps the full 203 acres assembled by D.D.T. Warner in 1867, along with two historic outbuildings that reflect nineteenth-century sheep, hog, orchard and field-crop farming.
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 88002189, listed November 17, 1988. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | NY 88, Clifton Springs |
|---|---|
| County | Ontario County |
| Listed | November 17, 1988 |
| Reference number | 88002189 |
| Resource type | District |
| Period of significance | ca. 1840 - ca. 1900 |
| Architect / builder | Oliver Warner |
| Architectural style | Late Federal/early Greek Revival cobblestone farmhouse with later Italianate additions |
| Areas of significance | Agriculture, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as a full-scale working dairy farm; the farmhouse is occupied as a private residence and its interior is largely intact. |
| Acreage | 203 |
| Coordinates | 42.91247, -77.12957 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
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 88002189.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7087917
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.