Mexico Stone Store, The
Also known as: Little Stone House, The
Why it's listed
Built of locally quarried stone around 1830, this small one-story building on Main Street in Mexico, New York, is known locally as the Little Stone House. Its gabled front has a centered door flanked by two windows, with cut stone casings and small quoins at the corners. Walls are more than 14 inches thick, and the land slopes away at the west side to expose a raised basement. Surviving twelve-over-twelve windows in the basement point to the original design. The building is considered Mexico's oldest surviving commercial building and an uncommon example of a once-common type of small-town store or office. A grocery is believed to have operated here, and maps from 1885 to 1890 label it a cigar factory. Between 1907 and 1912 a frame addition was built at the rear for living space, likely ending its commercial uses. It remains a residence and was listed for its architecture and its link to the village's early commerce and industry.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is significant under Criteria A and C as a rare surviving example of early nineteenth-century vernacular commercial architecture in Oswego County. It is believed to be Mexico's oldest surviving commercial building. It also reflects the village's earliest commercial development, including use as a grocery and a cigar factory.
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 10000103, listed March 23, 2010. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 3201 Main St., Mexico |
|---|---|
| County | Oswego County |
| Listed | March 23, 2010 |
| Reference number | 10000103 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | c.1830-1912 |
| Architectural style | Mid-19th Century: Greek Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Industry, Architecture, Commerce |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The building remains in residential use today. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 43.46181, -76.22569 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
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 10000103.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7751217
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.