Hiawatha Farm
Also known as: Levi Green and Mary Montanye House
Why it's listed
Hiawatha Farm is a two-story farmhouse built around 1825 by early settlers Levi Green and Mary Montanye on State Route 17C in the Town of Owego, Tioga County. Based on the traditional five-bay, center-entrance plan, it combines late Federal massing and proportions with early Greek Revival touches. Features include a low-pitched side-gabled roof, double-dentil cornices, a sidelight-and-pilaster entrance, original clapboard, six-over-six and twelve-over-eight windows, and a coursed rubble foundation. Inside, post-and-beam framing, wide pine floors and early woodwork survive. A threshing barn from the same era and two early twentieth century outbuildings complete the property. The house was listed for its architecture. An 1821 survey counted only 57 homes in Coxe's Manor, most of them log, so a large frame house and a frame barn were unusual. The house has changed little in nearly 175 years and is among the earliest and most intact of its kind in Tioga and Broome Counties.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the property is a distinctive example of an early nineteenth century vernacular farmhouse, blending Federal and Greek Revival features and retaining a high level of integrity. It was one of the largest houses in the area when built, in a township where most homes in 1821 were log. Its frame threshing barn is also described as rare and unusual for the area and period.
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 98000551, listed May 20, 1998. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 2293 NY 17C, Owego |
|---|---|
| County | Tioga County |
| Listed | May 20, 1998 |
| Reference number | 98000551 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | ca. 1825 |
| Architect / builder | unknown (built by Levi Green and Mary Montanye) |
| Architectural style | Early Republic/Federal; transitional Federal/Greek Revival vernacular farmhouse |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Currently used as a single dwelling; described as a non-working farm on uncultivated, wooded land with a high level of architectural integrity. |
| Acreage | 2 |
| Coordinates | 42.09182, -76.21240 (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 98000551.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5750565
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.