Parmeter, Nathaniel, House
Why it's listed
Built around 1830 on Back Hannawa Road in Potsdam, this small red sandstone house measures 33 by 24 feet and rises one and a half stories under a gable roof. Its walls use slab and binder masonry, in which rows of vertical slabs alternate with thinner horizontal binders, and the stone came from the Parmeter quarry on the Raquette River. The paneled center entry with its fanlight is the main ornament. Inside, a cellar cooking hearth with a beehive oven survives. Nathaniel Parmeter, a mason, probably built it; his family opened the first commercial red Potsdam Sandstone quarry, and the land was not bought until 1830, which disproves the popular 1809 date. The house is listed for its ties to Potsdam's early settlement and the sandstone industry, and as a well-preserved Federal cottage and early example of slab and binder work. A rear wing was removed in 1935 and a cement block addition was made around 1950, yet the original form remains.
Significance in brief: It is associated with the early settlement of Potsdam and with Nathaniel Parmeter, whose family founded the red Potsdam Sandstone industry. Architecturally it is a well-preserved modest Federal cottage and one of the better early examples of slab and binder sandstone masonry.
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 03000027, listed June 6, 2003. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 498 NY 59, Potsdam |
|---|---|
| County | St. Lawrence County |
| Listed | June 6, 2003 |
| Reference number | 03000027 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | c.1830-1853 |
| Architectural style | Early Republic/Federal |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Exploration/Settlement, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still used as a single-family dwelling; altered between 1935 and 1950 but retains its original form, fenestration and fabric largely intact. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 44.64251, -74.98647 (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 03000027.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14707047
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.