Curtis, Thomas Bennett, House
Why it's listed
Built in 1851 by Thomas Bennett Curtis, this farmhouse on Shannon Corners Road in Starkey, Yates County, is a one and one-half story frame dwelling in the Carpenter Gothic mode. Its asymmetrical gabled-ell form, steeply pitched roofs, scroll-sawn vergeboards and pointed-arch windows with multiple-light sash reflect the Gothic Revival ideas spread by mid-nineteenth century pattern books. Additions made in 1875 added three single-story rear wings. Inside, the original room layout survives along with plaster walls, wood moldings, paneled doors, stairs and mantels. The 93-acre property also keeps an English-style barn of the same date, a privy, historic plantings and the foundations and dams of the plaster, saw and grist mills the Curtis family ran from the 1840s. The land was bought by Thomas Bennett in 1831 and passed to his son-in-law Roswell Curtis, whose son managed the mills and farm. Together these features make the property a local landmark of the area's mid-nineteenth century development.
Significance in brief: The house is argued to be a representative and highly intact example of Carpenter Gothic residential architecture in Yates County, with its asymmetrical form, steep gable roofs, scroll-sawn vergeboards and pointed-arch windows. The outbuildings and industrial ruins make it an important local landmark recalling the mid-nineteenth century development of the area.
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 94000932, listed August 24, 1994. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Shannon Corners Rd., Starkey |
|---|---|
| County | Yates County |
| Listed | August 24, 1994 |
| Reference number | 94000932 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1851 |
| Architectural style | Mid-Nineteenth Century/Gothic Revival (Carpenter Gothic) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Historic and current functions are listed as single dwelling and agricultural outbuilding; the house retains its gabled-ell plan and much historic interior fabric. |
| Acreage | 93 |
| Coordinates | 42.54852, -76.93172 (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 94000932.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7787579
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.