Richardson Hall, St. Lawrence University
Also known as: College Building; Main Hall
Why it's listed
Richardson Hall is a three-story red brick building on the crest of the hill at St. Lawrence University in Canton, New York. Built in 1856 as the college's first building, it rises from a high sandstone basement and is eleven bays wide, with porches featuring paired Corinthian columns, a bracketed cornice, a nearly flat roof and a square cupola. The Universalist Church founded the university, and the building once held the dining room, chapel, classrooms and dormitory space. Men and women lived there during the 1860s, after the first woman applicant was accepted in 1861, which placed the college among the earliest coeducational institutions in the state. Fraternities and secret societies later met on its third floor. The hall took its present name in 1906, honoring Mary A. Richardson, who was responsible for its renovation. A second renovation in 1962 replaced the interior structure, yet stained glass windows by Gardner and Veitch remain, and the building still serves as a classroom facility.
Significance in brief: The nomination presents the hall as the progressive beginning of St. Lawrence University, which the Universalist Church founded and which was among the first coeducational colleges in New York State. The building housed the dining room, chapel, classrooms and dormitory space in the college's early years. It remains a functional and symbolic link to the founding of the university, though its interior has been heavily altered.
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 74002204, listed May 1, 1974. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | St. Lawrence University campus, Canton |
|---|---|
| County | St. Lawrence County |
| Listed | May 1, 1974 |
| Reference number | 74002204 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1855-6 (specific date given); 19th and 20th centuries checked |
| Areas of significance | Education, Architecture, Religion |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as in excellent condition and altered, on its original site; occupied and used for education, with twelve modern classrooms, a language lab, a seminar room and offices after a 1962 renovation. |
| Acreage | 1 |
| Coordinates | 44.59211, -75.16305 (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 74002204.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7330331
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.