Cox, Gardner, House
Why it's listed
Built in 1838 beside the Raquette River in Hannawa Falls, this two-story house was the home of Gardner Cox, who founded the community and operated its sawmills, grist mills, starch factory and other enterprises. Its walls are cut red Potsdam sandstone laid in even courses with very thin mortar joints, and a flat arch of gauged stone voussoirs with a marble datestone marks the center entrance. The five-bay facade, twelve-over-twelve windows and wooden cornice reflect the late Federal style and Cox's New England origins. Inside, the front staircase, panelled doors with Norfolk latches, stenciled bedrooms and a rear ell with a working beehive oven survive. The first floor was reworked in the 1940s, and the original chimneys were removed. A power company bought the house in 1899 and used it as a superintendent's residence until 1940. The nominated land also holds a contemporary stone-lined well and an iron gate with sandstone posts. The nomination calls the masonry unsurpassed among the county's surviving nineteenth-century buildings.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is an exceptional example of late Federal architecture and one of the finest examples of early nineteenth century stone masonry in St. Lawrence County. It was built for the founder and leading industrialist of Hannawa Falls and links the area to an early period of prosperity based on forest products and water power.
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 86000484, listed March 20, 1986. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Main St., Hannawa Falls |
|---|---|
| County | St. Lawrence County |
| Listed | March 20, 1986 |
| Reference number | 86000484 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1838 |
| Architect / builder | unknown |
| Architectural style | Late Federal |
| Areas of significance | Exploration/Settlement, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied as a private residence; the interior first floor was altered in the 1940s but the front hall, second floor and rear ell remain largely intact. |
| Acreage | 1.3 |
| Coordinates | 44.61212, -74.97267 (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 86000484.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5522592
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.