Main Street Historic Distrct
Why it's listed
Addison's Main Street runs south from the Canisteo River through the village's historic commercial center, and the district covers the continuous rows of storefront buildings on both sides. Thirty contributing buildings and outbuildings date from about 1840 to 1934. Most are two- to three-story brick blocks built in the 1870s and 1880s, many with Italianate details such as arched windows, bracketed cornices and decorative brickwork. A row of seven buildings on the west side went up in 1880 after a fire destroyed much of that side of the street, and four were designed by Elmira architect Eugene Gregory. Cast iron storefront pilasters and pressed metal cornices, made by firms in Elmira and Horseheads, survive on several buildings. The Stevens Block of 1883 is the district's only High Victorian Gothic example, with multicolored masonry. Although some storefronts have been modernized, the upper floors and the consistent scale and setbacks keep the street's historic commercial character.
Significance in brief: The district is the intact commercial core of Addison, with attached brick blocks showing mid-to-late nineteenth and early twentieth century styles, mainly Italianate. A row of seven buildings was rebuilt after the 1879 fire, four of them designed by architect Eugene Gregory of Elmira. The storefronts also preserve cast iron and pressed metal ornament by regional manufacturers.
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 96000488, listed April 26, 1996. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Main St. from the Canisteo R. to the jct. of Main, Steuben, Tuscarora, South Sts. and Valerio Pkwy., Addison |
|---|---|
| County | Steuben County |
| Listed | April 26, 1996 |
| Reference number | 96000488 |
| Resource type | District |
| Period of significance | c. 1840-1934 |
| Architect / builder | Eugene Gregory of Elmira (architect for several buildings); contractors and builders including C.A. Rubright, H.J. Blanchard, O.P. Furman and Abraham Dudley |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival, High Victorian Eclectic, High Victorian Gothic, Italianate, Early 20th Century American Movement, Commercial/No Style |
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The buildings are in commercial use, with apartments, offices or storage on the upper floors. Many storefronts have been altered, but the upper stories largely retain their integrity. |
| Acreage | 5.4 |
| Coordinates | 42.10587, -77.23421 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
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 96000488.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6736118
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.