Esperanza
Also known as: John Rose House
Why it's listed
Esperanza is a Greek Revival house built in 1838 for John Nicholas Rose on a hillside overlooking Route 54A in Jerusalem, Yates County. Its two-and-one-half-story main block is built of random coursed stone with brick corners and openings, covered in parging scored to resemble smooth ashlar. A massive two-story portico with four Ionic columns dominates the south front, and a lower wing extends to the west. Inside, a central hall plan with matching double parlors survives, along with paneled doors, molded trim, plaster walls and several fireplaces. Rose settled the area in 1823 and was its wealthiest citizen when the house was finished. Later owners included a vineyardist and a New York financier, whose wife launched the county women's suffrage campaign on its steps in 1911. Yates County bought the estate in 1922 for a poor house, and it closed in 1948. Esperanza was listed for its refined architecture and high level of preserved integrity, and for its rural setting on five acres.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is an outstanding, well-preserved example of rural Greek Revival domestic architecture in Yates County, under Criterion C. It has a monumental two-story Ionic portico, a symmetrical composition with a recessed wing, and largely intact interior finishes. It is also one of three Yates County residences associated with the Rose family.
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 95001406, listed December 7, 1995. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | NY 54A E of Keuka Lake, Jerusalem |
|---|---|
| County | Yates County |
| Listed | December 7, 1995 |
| Reference number | 95001406 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1838 |
| Architect / builder | John Rose (John Nicholas Rose), builder; Pierce & Bickford of Elmira remodeled it in 1922 |
| Architectural style | Mid-19th Century / Greek Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Used as the Yates County Poor House from 1922 until 1948, then vacant until purchased in 1967; the form lists its current function as a single dwelling. |
| Acreage | 5 |
| Coordinates | 42.59596, -77.13459 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
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 95001406.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5398881
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.