Warsaw Academy
Also known as: Masonic Temple
Why it's listed
Built in 1846 as the Warsaw Academy, this two-story cobblestone building on South Main Street in Warsaw, New York, was constructed after Wyoming County was formed and Warsaw became the county seat. Builder Chester Hurd erected it for $1,500 to consolidate four school districts. Its Greek Revival details include a gabled east facade, a raking cornice, limestone quoins, lintels and sills, and a square cupola. According to local tradition, boys gathered the cobblestones for the price of a circus ticket. A brick wing was added in 1854, and a stucco bowling alley addition followed in 1928. The school closed in 1873, and the building later passed through several owners, including a canning business, before Masonic groups bought it in 1907. It is the only cobblestone structure ever built in the township and is considered among the finest Greek Revival buildings in the village. A boulder on the lawn commemorates Warsaw's first dwelling.
Significance in brief: It is described as the only cobblestone structure ever built in the township and one of the finest Greek Revival buildings in Warsaw. It is a good example of the cobblestone construction that was a regional vernacular type in western New York. It also served as the village school and later as a community gathering place.
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 80002799, listed January 3, 1980. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 73 S. Main St., Warsaw |
|---|---|
| County | Wyoming County |
| Listed | January 3, 1980 |
| Reference number | 80002799 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architect / builder | Chester Hurd, builder |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival (cobblestone construction) |
| Areas of significance | Education, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Owned by the Warsaw Temple Association, which maintains it; the hall is often rented for banquets and meetings. The interior has been totally altered, and the bowling alley addition is used for storage. |
| Acreage | 0.5 |
| Coordinates | 42.73884, -78.13257 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For a publicly owned building or structure, listing mainly matters when federal funds, permits or licences are involved: projects then go through Section 106 review so effects on the property are considered. Listing also strengthens applications for preservation grants and, for leased income-producing uses, can enable the federal rehabilitation tax credit.
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 80002799.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7970882
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.