Bassett Family House
Also known as: Dielytra Arbor House
Why it's listed
Built around 1844 on Main Street in the hamlet of Mt. Vision, this two-story, two-bay Greek Revival house was the home and practice of Dr. Wilson T. Bassett and Dr. Mary Ostrander Bassett, the hamlet's first doctors. Both traveled widely across Otsego County. Wilson was known as a surgeon and consultant, and Mary was among the first female physicians in the region. Their daughter, Mary Imogene Bassett, was born in the house and later became a physician. She encouraged Edward S. Clark to build the hospital in Cooperstown that carries her name. The house originally had a full-height pedimented portico, which was enclosed in the 1870s to add living space. Wings were added in c1860 and 1870, and the doctors' small office was later attached to the rear. The interior keeps its historic plan, wide floorboards and a Greek Revival mantel. A barn and two early twentieth-century chicken houses remain on the site.
Significance in brief: The house is significant as a distinctive example of Greek Revival residential architecture in Mt. Vision. It is also tied to the Bassett family, which included three important Otsego County physicians. Wilson and Mary Bassett were the hamlet's first doctors, and their daughter Mary Imogene Bassett, born in the house, inspired the creation of Mary Imogene Bassett Hospital in Cooperstown.
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 04000823, listed August 11, 2004. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 2399 Main St., Mt. Vision |
|---|---|
| County | Otsego County |
| Listed | August 11, 2004 |
| Reference number | 04000823 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1844-c1903 |
| Architect / builder | unknown |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Health/Medicine, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still used as a single dwelling. It has been altered over time, including a c1960 picture window, but retains its historic floor plan and many period details. |
| Acreage | 1.5 |
| Coordinates | 42.58028, -75.05823 (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 04000823.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q4868108
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.