Lattin-Crandall Octagon Barn
Why it's listed
Built in 1893 for William S. Lattin by George Stewart, this octagonal dairy barn sits about 300 feet south of County Route 14, roughly a mile east of Catherine in Schuyler County, New York. It has board and batten siding over a stone foundation, a hipped roof and a windowed octagonal cupola. A ramp on the west side leads to double sliding wagon doors. A two-story rectangular addition with a lean-to extends east and appears to have been added soon after the original construction. Inside, heavy timber framing uses log columns and beams on the ground floor, with cow stalls below and a central wagon drive above. The barn is notable because its roof is self-supporting, with no intermediate posts, following the design popularized by Elliot Stewart in the 1870s. Other octagon barns in its group rely on an inner square of posts. The barn is in fair condition, is no longer in use, and has kept most of its original character. The nearby farmhouse and shed are excluded.
Significance in brief: It is an early New York example of the octagon barn type popularized by Elliot Stewart in the 1870s. It follows Stewart's framing design more strictly than the other octagon barns in its thematic group. Its self-supporting roof has no intermediate posts, leaving the mow unobstructed above the wagon drive.
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 84002970, listed September 29, 1984. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | E of Catherine, Catherine |
|---|---|
| County | Schuyler County |
| Listed | September 29, 1984 |
| Reference number | 84002970 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Architect unknown; builder George Stewart for William S. Lattin, original owner |
| Architectural style | Octagon barn (central plan dairy barn) |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as unused, in fair condition, with very little loss of original integrity; deterioration is noted as a threat. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.31192, -76.76755 (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.
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
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 84002970.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6497156
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.