Mexico Octagon Barn
Approximate location: the National Park Service places this pin arbitrarily within the property, not at a surveyed point (stated accuracy ±12 m).
Why it's listed
Set on a small lot on Ames Street, half a mile south of Mexico village, this octagonal barn dates to about 1880 and was built as a sheep barn. Its heavy timber frame with mortise and tenon joints rests on a fieldstone foundation built into a hillside, creating a full basement. The lower level holds a sheep pen, a small lambing pen and two horse stalls, while the upper level is an open hay mow. Because of the slope, the hay loft can be entered directly without a ramp. The barn measures 35.7 feet across, with sides of 14 feet. Octagonal designs were promoted in the mid-1800s by Orson Fowler and later by agriculturist Elliot Stewart, who argued they saved materials and gave a clear hay mow. The barn is the only octagonal structure in Mexico and one of five known in Oswego County. It reflects how local farmers, shifting from grain to dairying, followed new agricultural trends, and it remains a well-known community landmark.
Significance in brief: The barn is a rare surviving example of the octagonal building type popular in the later nineteenth century. It is the only octagonal structure in Mexico and one of only five known octagonal buildings in Oswego County. It illustrates efforts by local farmers to adopt new, supposedly more efficient farm building designs.
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 91000527, listed June 20, 1991. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 5276 Ames St., Mexico |
|---|---|
| County | Oswego County |
| Listed | June 20, 1991 |
| Reference number | 91000527 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | c. 1880 |
| Architectural style | Other: Octagon |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Agriculture, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Remarkably intact apart from twentieth-century asphalt shingle siding over the original vertical board siding; no longer part of an intact historic farm complex but still in a rural setting. Current function is listed as agricultural outbuilding. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 43.45221, -76.24151 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
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 91000527.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6826219
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.