Hayt's Chapel and Schoolhouse
Why it's listed
Two modest frame buildings on Trumansburg Road in the town of Ithaca, New York, make up this property: a chapel and a one-room schoolhouse. Charles Hayt, an early settler and landowner, donated the land and funds. The schoolhouse was probably built in the 1830s in Greek Revival style and remained a school until 1964. The chapel, built in 1847 and measuring about 20 by 40 feet, has vertical plank siding, Tudor-style window moldings and small buttresses that show an early interest in Gothic Revival. Hayt was a well-known opponent of slavery. After the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850, he and other abolitionists left the Presbyterian Church in Ithaca and met at the chapel, which one participant called the Abolition Church. It was reportedly a stop on an overland route north from Ithaca. Both buildings have since been adapted, as a studio and an apartment, while keeping historic features such as the schoolhouse wainscot, blackboard and tin ceiling.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the buildings are significant under Criterion A for their link to the Underground Railroad in Ithaca and Tompkins County, since the chapel housed an abolitionist congregation and was a stop on an overland route north. Under Criterion C, the chapel is an early attempt at Gothic Revival in a small religious building, and the schoolhouse is a Greek Revival one-room school.
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 05001453, listed December 22, 2005. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 1296-1298 Trumansburg Rd., Ithaca |
|---|---|
| County | Tompkins County |
| Listed | December 22, 2005 |
| Reference number | 05001453 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | c1835-1954 |
| Architect / builder | Charles Hayt |
| Architectural style | Mid-19th Century: Greek Revival, Gothic Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Black, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Both buildings are described as well maintained and in good preservation. The chapel is used as an artist's studio and the schoolhouse has been converted to a studio apartment. |
| Acreage | 0.6 |
| Coordinates | 42.46895, -76.54507 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
Religious properties are listed for their architectural or historical significance, not their religious use. Listing is honorary and does not restrict the congregation's use of the building. The federal rehabilitation credit is generally unavailable unless part of the building is income-producing; some state programmes and preservation grants do cover religious buildings. Federal funding or permits trigger Section 106 review.
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 05001453.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5687284
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.