Sill Tenant House
Why it's listed
Built about 1870 as a tenant farmer's cottage on the Henry Rose farm in Jerusalem, Yates County, this small stone house was enlarged in 1881 with a rear kitchen wing marked by a dated cornerstone. Henry Rose Sill had it built, replacing an earlier log house, and local mason Thomas Barrow is credited with the work. The front block is one and a half stories with a steep gable roof, paired four-over-four windows and elaborate brick chimneys, one of them purely decorative. Inside, pine floors, plaster walls, paneled doors, simple flat trim and a brick fireplace survive. The design is believed to echo Swiss chalet architecture Sill saw in Europe, and it is regarded as a rare example of picturesque vernacular building in the region. The house also reflects the Rose family, who built nearby Hampstead and Esperanza. Today it serves as a home within a nursery property that includes a historic privy and several newer barns and sheds.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is a distinctive example of picturesque vernacular architecture in the Finger Lakes region, with a steep gable roof, stone walls, ornate brick chimneys and paired narrow windows. It is believed to draw on Swiss chalet designs the builder's patron saw in Europe. It also retains a high degree of integrity and is linked to the prominent Rose family of Yates County.
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 94000952, listed August 24, 1994. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 3232 Co. Rt. 54, Jerusalem |
|---|---|
| County | Yates County |
| Listed | August 24, 1994 |
| Reference number | 94000952 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | ca.1870 - 1881 |
| Architect / builder | Barrow, Thomas, mason |
| Architectural style | Other: stone cottage (vernacular, picturesque tradition) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Currently a single-family residence forming the centerpiece of a nursery business; interior historic fabric largely intact. |
| Acreage | 6.2 |
| Coordinates | 42.60269, -77.12079 (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 94000952.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7515306
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.