Hobart, James, House
Why it's listed
Built around 1855 on the north side of Italy Valley Road in Potter, this farmhouse anchors a 147-acre parcel historically tied to the farm of James Hobart. It is a two-story, cubic, frame house on a fieldstone foundation, with a low hipped roof topped by a cupola, broad bracketed eaves and a veranda with chamfered posts and scroll-sawn brackets across the front and side. A one-and-one-half-story rear wing is an earlier dwelling absorbed into the later construction. Inside, the original plan survives, along with plaster walls, wood moldings, mantels, paneled doors and the stair. A privy and two sheds from the period of significance remain, while a modern cow barn and silo do not contribute. The house was listed as an outstanding regional example of Italianate residential design in Yates County, where the style was common in villages and less often found on outlying farms. Its setting and materials remain largely intact.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is an outstanding regional example of Italianate residential architecture in Yates County. It shows the style's typical features, including cubic massing, a cupola, bracketed eaves, double-leaf entry doors and a low hipped roof. The house, three intact outbuildings and the historic acreage retain a high degree of integrity, making it an important local architectural landmark.
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 94000941, listed August 24, 1994. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 4646 Italy Valley Rd., Potter |
|---|---|
| County | Yates County |
| Listed | August 24, 1994 |
| Reference number | 94000941 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | ca.1855 |
| Architectural style | Late Victorian/Italianate |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still used as a single dwelling with agricultural outbuildings; the form says the house retains its original plan and much historic interior fabric. |
| Acreage | 147 |
| Coordinates | 42.69484, -77.21243 (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 94000941.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6136111
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.