Larzelere Tavern
Why it's listed
Built in 1823-24 by Henry Larzelere, this two-story, side-hall, gable-roofed building near Branchport in Yates County served as both a family home and a tavern and inn on the Penn Yan/Prattsburg stage coach line. Its clapboard walls, heavy timber frame and finely detailed entrance with half-sidelights and pilasters reflect vernacular Federal design, and a louvered fanlight marks the front gable. Inside, a cherry bannister, Adamesque-inspired mantelpieces, plank doors and wide plank floors survive. During the nineteenth century the building was a lively social center in the hamlet then known as Larzelere's Hollow, and it housed the post office and, by the 1840s, town meetings. In 1937 the Guyanoga Valley Grange began meeting here, and the building served as a Grange hall until 1959. Restored to its original role as a roadside inn, it now operates as a bed and breakfast and remains a prominent local landmark with three surviving outbuildings on its one-acre lot.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is a substantially intact, representative example of early nineteenth century vernacular Federal architecture in Yates County. It is also historically significant as a popular inn on the Penn Yan/Prattsburg stage line and a social and civic center of Jerusalem, and later as a Grange hall from 1937 to 1959.
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 97001525, listed December 19, 1997. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 3858 County House Rd., Branchport |
|---|---|
| County | Yates County |
| Listed | December 19, 1997 |
| Reference number | 97001525 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | ca. 1823 - 1940s |
| Architect / builder | Henry Larzelere (builder, per the narrative); architect unknown |
| Architectural style | Early Republic: Federal |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Entertainment/Recreation, Politics/Government, Agriculture, Transportation, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Recently restored and returned to use as a bed & breakfast inn serving tourists in the Finger Lakes region. |
| Acreage | 1 |
| Coordinates | 42.62681, -77.16226 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
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 97001525.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6492009
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.