Cottages at Central Point
Why it's listed
Four wood-frame summer cottages sit side by side on a small promontory on the east shore of Keuka Lake in Wayne, New York. Built in the late 1880s by families who bought lots from local banker-turned-grape-farmer Francis McDowell, they are known as Sans Souci, Central Point, Marijean Lodge and Ultimatum. Local tradition credits Jeptha A. Potter, a farmer and businessman, as the builder of Marijean Lodge, and the form suggests he built the others. Each is a two-story, gable-front building facing the lake, with a high wrap-around porch, board-and-batten, novelty or clapboard siding, and decorative gable work. Interiors skip hallways to maximize usable space, lake views and ventilation, while the raised porches allow boat storage below, close to the beach. The group was listed as a rare, intact collection of picturesque seasonal houses from the earliest period of recreational development along the Finger Lakes shoreline.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the cottages are remarkably well-preserved examples of late nineteenth-century seasonal lakefront architecture, combining simple Italianate form with Italianate and Queen Anne decoration. They are also rare survivors of the early recreational development of the Finger Lakes shores, and recall the residential patterns that later came to dominate the lakes.
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 11000754, listed October 20, 2011. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 14681-14697 Keuka Village Rd., Wayne |
|---|---|
| County | Steuben County |
| Listed | October 20, 2011 |
| Reference number | 11000754 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | ca. 1884 - ca. 1900 |
| Architect / builder | Jephtha A. Potter, Builder |
| Architectural style | Queen Anne; Italianate |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Entertainment/Recreation |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Current function is listed as domestic/camp; the four cottages are described as contributing and remarkably intact. |
| Acreage | 0.5 |
| Coordinates | 42.50258, -77.11210 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
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 11000754.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5175553
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.