Jenning's Tavern
Also known as: Benjamin Patterson Inn
Approximate location: the National Park Service places this pin arbitrarily within the property, not at a surveyed point (stated accuracy ±12 m).
Why it's listed
Built in 1796 at 59 West Pulteney Street in Corning, this two-story, ell-shaped frame building began as a tavern on the Lycoming Road, a route for settlers laid out by Colonel Charles Williamson, land agent for Sir William Pulteney. Williamson wanted lodging for travelers and built a clapboarded hotel finished in the best style available. Benjamin Patterson, a Virginia-born frontier scout and Revolutionary War soldier, became the first innkeeper in 1797. John Jennings later kept the inn for twenty-one years until his death in 1834, and the rear additions were probably built under him. Afterward the building served as a family residence and then apartments for about a century. It is regarded as the oldest framed building in the area and possibly in Steuben County, and it survives as a rare reminder of the settlement of southern tier New York. The front section has five bays, Federal doorway details and a fanlight in the east pediment.
Significance in brief: It is described as the oldest framed building in the Corning area and possibly in all of Steuben County. It is a rare surviving example in New York's southern tier of the settlement of formerly Indian-occupied territory. It was built by Charles Williamson, land agent for Sir William Pulteney, as lodging for travelers on the Lycoming Road.
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 73001270, listed September 20, 1973. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 59 W. Pulteney St., Corning |
|---|---|
| County | Steuben County |
| Listed | September 20, 1973 |
| Reference number | 73001270 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1796 (18th Century) |
| Architect / builder | Colonel Charles Williamson, land agent for Sir William Pulteney (owner and builder) |
| Architectural style | Federal elements |
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Transportation |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition fair and altered; the form lists the property as vacant, after use as a residence and then apartments. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.15134, -77.06383 (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.
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
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 73001270.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14706649
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.