Ford, Lebbeus, House
Why it's listed
Built around 1830 near the western edge of Berkshire in Tioga County, this two-story brick house has five bays and a center hall. The walls are laid in five-course common bond, and the windows have original brick jack arches, though the sash is a later replacement. The original wooden frieze and cornice survive. The front entrance is the most notable feature, with sidelights, an elliptical louvered fan and a two-panel door, all in the Federal style. The house is believed to have been built by Lebbeus Ford, who appears as owner on an 1855 map; his widow, Sarah, is shown on an 1869 map. The Ford family kept the property until shortly after the Second World War, and it has since been a summer residence. Brick came from the nearby Ball brickyard, which operated from 1827 to 1835. It resembles the Deodatus Royce House but uses brick arches rather than stone lintels. It is a late example of a type common elsewhere in New York much earlier. The nominated land covers about 9.5 acres.
Significance in brief: The house is significant as an example of Federal vernacular residential architecture, with an especially fine Federal entrance featuring sidelights, an elliptical louvered fan and a two-panel door. It is a late example of a house type common elsewhere in the state 10-20 years earlier, reflecting Berkshire's cultural isolation in the early nineteenth century.
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 84003104, listed July 2, 1984. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Jewett Hill Rd., Berkshire |
|---|---|
| County | Tioga County |
| Listed | July 2, 1984 |
| Reference number | 84003104 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Architect unknown; builder unknown (believed to have been built by Lebbeus Ford) |
| Architectural style | Federal vernacular |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Used as a residence (summer residence since shortly after World War II); condition listed as fair, with a small deteriorated shed that does not contribute to significance. |
| Acreage | 9.5 |
| Coordinates | 42.31114, -76.19323 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary for a privately owned home: it does not by itself restrict what an owner may do with their own money, and it does not require public access. Restrictions come from local landmark or historic-district ordinances, which are separate (how they differ).
Owner-occupied houses are not eligible for the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit, which applies to income-producing buildings, but many states offer credits for homeowners. Listing also opens the door to preservation easements and to buying a plaque. Start with what listing means for homeowners, renovating a listed house and selling one.
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 84003104.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6511231
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.