Land Office
Also known as: Morristown Library
Why it's listed
Built around 1820-1821 at the corner of Main and Chapman streets in Morristown, this one and one-half story limestone building was constructed as a land office by the Chapman family. The Chapmans, along with other early landowners such as the Ogdens, Fords and Judsons, helped drive the town's early growth, especially trade with Canada. The building has a pedimented roof, smooth limestone lintels and sills, quoins on the facade, a gable-end entrance, a substantial entablature and fretwork grills over the attic windows. Inside, two rooms occupy each floor, and a walk-in vault opens off the first-floor back room. It was adapted to library use in 1895 and remained in the Chapman family until 1904, when it was deeded to the village as the public library. It is valued as a local example of Greek Revival design and of refined limestone construction in the St. Lawrence region. It stands across the street from Wright's stone store.
Significance in brief: The form describes it as an important local example of Greek Revival style with distinctive details. It also represents highly refined limestone building practices in the St. Lawrence region. Its builders, the Chapman family, were among the early landowners who shaped Morristown's growth and trade with Canada.
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 82004685, listed September 2, 1982. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Main St., Morristown |
|---|---|
| County | St. Lawrence County |
| Listed | September 2, 1982 |
| Reference number | 82004685 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| Areas of significance | Exploration/Settlement, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed in excellent condition with no known threats; adapted to a library in 1895 and owned by the village, with the library use continuing as the present use. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 44.58893, -75.65035 (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 82004685.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6483926
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.