Hepburn Library of Colton
Also known as: Colton-Hepburn Library
Why it's listed
Hepburn Library of Colton is a small stone library on Main Street in Colton, St. Lawrence County, built in 1912-13 and designed by New York City architect Ehrick Kensett Rossiter. Rough-hewn stone walls, a hipped roof with a wooden cupola, and a portico with two pairs of Ionic columns give it a Colonial Revival character with rustic Arts & Crafts touches. Inside, quarter-sawn oak woodwork, plaster surfaces and arcaded reading rooms survive from the 1910s. It was the first of seven libraries in the county financed by Alonzo Barton Hepburn, a Colton-born lawyer, banker and state official who began his career as a teacher. The building has operated as a library since its dedication in June 1913, and also served as a classroom in 1943 after a school fire. Its design closely echoes Rossiter's earlier Gunn Memorial Library in Connecticut. Later changes include replacement windows, a lift and a ramp enclosure.
Significance in brief: It was the first of seven community libraries in St. Lawrence County funded by Colton native Alonzo Barton Hepburn, and has served as a public library since its 1913 completion. It is also a largely intact example of small-scale Colonial Revival civic design with Arts & Crafts influence, and the work of architect E.K. Rossiter.
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 12000287, listed May 16, 2012. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 84 Main St., Colton |
|---|---|
| County | St. Lawrence County |
| Listed | May 16, 2012 |
| Reference number | 12000287 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | c. 1912-1961 |
| Architect / builder | Rossiter, Erick K., architect; Proctor Manufacturing Company, contractors. |
| Architectural style | Late 19th & 20th Century Revivals: Colonial Revival; Late 19th & Early 20th Century American Movements: Arts & Crafts |
| Criteria |
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| Areas of significance | Architecture, Education |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still in use as a library; the interior is largely intact, with modern changes including replacement windows, a lift, a c. 2002 accessibility addition and a dropped ceiling on the lower level. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 44.55497, -74.93861 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For a publicly owned building or structure, listing mainly matters when federal funds, permits or licences are involved: projects then go through Section 106 review so effects on the property are considered. Listing also strengthens applications for preservation grants and, for leased income-producing uses, can enable the federal rehabilitation tax credit.
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 12000287.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q23091777
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.