Graves, John, Cobblestone Farmhouse
Also known as: Cobblestone Farmhouse at 1370 NY 318
Why it's listed
Built in 1837 for farmer John Graves, this cobblestone farmhouse sits on the south side of Route 318 in rural Junius, Seneca County, on a 68.5-acre farm of rolling fields. The two-story, three-bay main block has walls of variously colored field cobbles, limestone corner quoins, and smooth stone lintels and sills. Late Federal details include a delicate fanlight in the front gable and fluted, paneled woodwork around the entrance. Inside, hand-hewn timbers, raised-panel doors and a wooden parlor mantel survive. A one-story frame wing and a small frame barn complete the historic buildings. The house was listed for its architecture: it is a well-preserved example of cobblestone construction from the Early Period and of vernacular Federal design. Only about 12 to 14 of roughly 20 cobblestone buildings once recorded in Seneca County retain high integrity. The date of 1837 rests on a probate record, an English-made door lock and town highway records. The Graves family held the farm until 1894.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is a substantially intact, representative example of cobblestone construction in Seneca County, with field cobbles, limestone quoins, and stone lintels and sills typical of the Early Period. It is also described as an outstanding example of vernacular Federal style domestic architecture in the county.
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 08000107, listed February 28, 2008. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 1370 NY 318, Junius |
|---|---|
| County | Seneca County |
| Listed | February 28, 2008 |
| Reference number | 08000107 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1837-ca. 1900 |
| Architectural style | Mid-19th Century: Federal |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still in use as a single dwelling; the walls, quoins, lintels and sills are described as virtually intact to the 1837 construction date. |
| Acreage | 68.5 |
| Coordinates | 42.95557, -76.87337 (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 08000107.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q16982534
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.