Customs House
Also known as: Old Customs House
Why it's listed
Built in 1874 on Sentell Street in Sodus Point, New York, this 25-by-35-foot brick building was constructed by Sylvanus Macy, who moved from New York City to open a bank, Macy and Company. The bank closed in May 1885, and the Pennsylvania Railroad bought the building and leased it to the federal government. The first floor held the post office and the second floor housed the U.S. Customs Office, close to the railroad's coal trestle. The port closed in 1964, and the post office moved out in 1968. The building is Italianate, with red brick, carved sandstone trim, round-arched openings, paneled wooden doors and a heavy bracketed cornice. Inside, a walk-in bank vault and a black marble fireplace survive. Its only noted changes are a wooden staircase on the west side and a cover of Virginia creeper. It is described as the last remnant of the Macyville commercial area and a reminder of the port's former importance. At the time of nomination it stood vacant.
Significance in brief: The building is one of the few remnants of the era when Sodus Point was a major Great Lakes port for coal shipment, and it is the last vestige of the commercial area known as Macyville. It is also an excellently preserved local example of commercial Italianate architecture, virtually unaltered since 1874. It is the only such structure in the village.
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 80002787, listed May 6, 1980. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Sentell St., Sodus Point |
|---|---|
| County | Wayne County |
| Listed | May 6, 1980 |
| Reference number | 80002787 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architectural style | Italianate |
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as unoccupied and vacant, in fair condition, at the time of nomination; described as virtually unaltered since 1874. |
| Acreage | 0.4 |
| Coordinates | 43.26689, -76.99333 (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.
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 80002787.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5196500
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.