Barlow, William V. N., House
Why it's listed
Built around 1875 at 223 South Clinton Street in Albion, this two-story brick house was designed by architect William V.N. Barlow as his family home. It has a Medina sandstone foundation, a slate-shingled mansard roof, a projecting pavilion with an attached tower, and an irregular, highly ornamented form. Barlow drew on Italianate, Second Empire and Queen Anne motifs, a contrast with his earlier work, which followed the conventional designs of its time. Inside, the walnut staircase, newel, fireplace frontispiece and carved door and window surrounds show Eastlake style design, with a different floral or geometric motif in each room. Barlow worked in western New York from 1833 to 1885 and designed many Albion buildings, including the Orleans County Courthouse. Many of his other works have been heavily altered, while this house remains largely intact. The property also includes the original horsebarn, now a garage, and a surviving well with a hand pump.
Significance in brief: The house is significant as a distinctive example of the work of prominent Albion architect William V.N. Barlow. It combines Italianate, Second Empire and Queen Anne features, marking a stylistic departure from his earlier, more conventional work. Its Eastlake style interior woodwork is notably intact and well designed.
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 83001757, listed September 8, 1983. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 223 S. Clinton St., Albion |
|---|---|
| County | Orleans County |
| Listed | September 8, 1983 |
| Reference number | 83001757 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | c. 1875 |
| Architect / builder | William V.N. Barlow |
| Architectural style | Eclectic mix of Italianate, Second Empire and Queen Anne motifs, with an Eastlake style interior |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied private residence in excellent condition; the horsebarn was converted to a garage in the mid-1970s. |
| Acreage | 1 |
| Coordinates | 43.23963, -78.19638 (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 83001757.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q8019652
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.