Wright's Stone Store
Why it's listed
Built around 1821 of local limestone on Main Street in Morristown, this two-and-one-half-story building is the earliest commercial structure known to survive in the village. It was erected for A. Chapman and C. Averill and functioned as a provisions store and community center until 1864. Chapman's son then operated it as a steam-powered lumber mill, and at other times it housed a printing office, a feed store and an inn. The building has a gabled standing-seam metal roof, a large central doorway and a small Federal style doorway on the east facade, and warehouse doors with a pulley support on the west side. A modern showroom was attached on the south in 1973. The building is valued for its link to the Chapman family, who encouraged Morristown's growth in the early nineteenth century, and as a modest vernacular example reflecting the craftsmanship of the area's early settlers. It now operates as a sports store.
Significance in brief: It is described as the earliest surviving commercial structure in Morristown and served as a provisions store and community center until 1864. It is also associated with the Chapman family, who promoted the town's growth in the first half of the nineteenth century. It is presented as an excellent example of modest vernacular construction showing the craftsmanship of early settlers.
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 82004691, 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 | 82004691 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Vernacular stone structure with a small Federal style doorway |
| Areas of significance | Exploration/Settlement, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition listed as fair; originally a supply store, now used as a sports store. A modern showroom was added on the south side in 1973 and a porch was removed in 1981. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 44.58893, -75.65086 (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 82004691.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q8038153
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.