Shelp, John, Cobblestone House
Also known as: Shelp-Beamer House
Why it's listed
This cobblestone farmhouse on West Shelby Road in the Town of Shelby, Orleans County, was completed around 1836. It has a two-story main block faced with small, uniform field cobbles laid in horizontal rows, with limestone quoins and cut stone trim, plus a frame wing. Three outbuildings survive: a carriage barn, a milk house and a large gambrel-roofed dairy barn. John Shelp, described as a good farmer, built up the acreage and moved into the house in 1838. Around 1900 the central hall was rebuilt in Queen Anne style with an oak staircase and balcony, and a wraparound porch with Tuscan posts was added after a stove fire. The property declined and was abandoned in the mid-twentieth century before restoration began in the late 1960s. It is listed for its intact cobblestone construction, Greek Revival character and evidence of a prosperous farm's evolution. It is one of six cobblestone buildings in Shelby and 90 in the county.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is a largely intact example of a large cobblestone residence in western Orleans County and a distinguished example of Greek Revival architecture in the Town of Shelby. It shows late-period cobblestone masonry craftsmanship. Later interior and porch changes reflect the farm's prosperity into the early twentieth century.
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 08001079, listed November 20, 2008. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 10181 West Shelby Rd., Middleport |
|---|---|
| County | Orleans County |
| Listed | November 20, 2008 |
| Reference number | 08001079 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | ca. 1836-ca. 1904 |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival; Colonial Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Abandoned and in decline in the mid-twentieth century; restored to its ca. 1900 appearance by owners who bought it in the late 1960s. Still used as a single dwelling. |
| Acreage | 10.8 |
| Coordinates | 43.15818, -84.46418 (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 08001079.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14706689
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.