Gates, Benjamin Franklin, House
Why it's listed
Built around 1831 on the north side of West Lee Road in the town of Barre, this two-story farmhouse with one-story wings combines a Federal form with Greek Revival details such as a full front pediment, heavy entablature and wide corner pilasters. Its walls are made of one-inch planks stacked flat and nailed together, a method that used timber cleared from farmland and did not require specialized joinery skills. The house sits on a 29-acre property whose boundaries have not changed since 1831, with a hand-hewn post-and-beam barn, a carriage barn and a privy. Benjamin Franklin Gates, the first owner, is credited as the town's pioneer tanner. His tannery grew over time and employed skilled workers from several countries, a development tied to the Erie Canal's effect on western New York's economy. The house remains largely as built, with its original footprint and many original windows and clapboards, and it illustrates early settler life in the region.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is architecturally significant as a largely intact vernacular Federal/Greek Revival farmhouse and as an example of stacked-plank construction. It is also significant for Benjamin Franklin Gates, an early settler who started the town's pioneer tannery, which employed skilled immigrant workers after the Erie Canal opened.
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 09000378, listed June 4, 2009. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 13079 W. Lee Rd., Albion |
|---|---|
| County | Orleans County |
| Listed | June 4, 2009 |
| Reference number | 09000378 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | ca. 1831-1853 |
| Architect / builder | unknown |
| Architectural style | Federal; Greek Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Exploration/Settlement |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still used as a single dwelling; the house is largely intact, and part of the property is farmed. |
| Acreage | 29 |
| Coordinates | 43.16687, -84.27509 (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 09000378.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q4888634
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.