Smith, Augustus A., House
Also known as: Germain House
Approximate location: the National Park Service places this pin arbitrarily within the property, not at a surveyed point (stated accuracy ±12 m).
Why it's listed
Built in 1890 at 125 Main Street in Attica, New York, this large Queen Anne style house was commissioned by Augustus A. Smith, a local businessman who had come to the village in 1865 and worked as a railroad freight agent and express agent before becoming a major landowner. The irregularly massed house combines a brick and rock-faced brownstone first story with shingled upper floors, a two-story semi-circular window bay, and a porch. Inside, a grand entrance stair hall features natural oak woodwork, a beamed ceiling, and a multi-landing staircase lit by a leaded-glass window. The dining room has a staggered-panel wainscot and built-in sideboard. A shake-clad carriage house stands at the rear and incorporates the lot's earlier house. The designer is unknown, though the house resembles an A.J. Warner design in nearby Warsaw. Later converted to apartments and then returned to single-family use, the house is an important local example of its style.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is architecturally significant as a largely intact example of a large Shingle/Queen Anne style residence in Attica. It shows a high level of craftsmanship and quality materials, both outside and in its oak-finished interior. It also reflects the career of Smith, a prominent post-Civil War local landowner and capitalist.
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 07000627, listed June 27, 2007. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 125 Main St., Attica |
|---|---|
| County | Wyoming County |
| Listed | June 27, 2007 |
| Reference number | 07000627 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1890-ca 1950 |
| Architectural style | Queen Anne (described in the text as Shingle/Queen Anne) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Historic and current use is single dwelling; the carriage house contains an apartment and the current owners are gradually restoring the house. |
| Acreage | 0.6 |
| Coordinates | 42.86444, -78.27804 (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 07000627.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q4821362
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.