Smith's Grain and Feed Store
Why it's listed
Built in 1892 beside the railroad tracks in the hamlet of Elnora, this gable-roofed frame building with clapboard siding and a standing seam metal roof began as a grain and feed store. Its attic held milling machinery, the upper floors held retail space, and a nearby early 20th-century railroad building with sliding doors received supplies such as molasses, grain and coal from trains. Dibble and Hurlburt founded the business, and George T. Smith bought it in 1895. The Smith family then operated it for roughly a century, adapting to suburban growth by selling hardware and repairing lawnmowers before selling in 1994. The property is significant as a rare surviving example of a multi-function commercial building that served a farming community and reflects Elnora's growth as a Delaware & Hudson rail depot. Plain and built for function, it is now a restaurant, and its two first-floor public rooms still serve that role.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the store is a rare surviving example of a once-common mixed-use commercial building that served a local agricultural clientele. It reflects Elnora's growth as a Delaware & Hudson rail depot and the shift from a railroad-era local economy to the automobile age. The Smith family ran it for four generations.
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 12000260, listed May 8, 2012. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 857 Main St., Elnora |
|---|---|
| County | Saratoga County |
| Listed | May 8, 2012 |
| Reference number | 12000260 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1892-1962 |
| Architect / builder | Unknown (built 1892 by Dibble & Hubert Company, also given as Dibble and Hurlburt) |
| Architectural style | Late Victorian |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Converted to a restaurant (Main Street Grill) after the Smith family sold it in 1994; integrity described as high. |
| Acreage | 1.7 |
| Coordinates | 42.89503, -73.81992 (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 12000260.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q23092079
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.