Swortz, William, House
Why it's listed
Built in 1874, this two-story frame farmhouse sits on the west side of Dundee-Himrod Road in Starkey, Yates County, on a 36-acre parcel historically tied to the home. It has an asymmetrical form, a fieldstone foundation, and a mix of gable, hipped and jerkin-head roofs. Single-story porches with carved posts and slate-clad mansard roofs mark the east and south sides, and pierced vergeboards, corner pendants and broad eaves add decoration. A rear wing may be a remnant of an earlier house on the site. A cupola was removed in 1934. Inside, the original plan of small formal and informal rooms survives, along with plaster walls, wood moldings, mantels, paneled doors, a stair and a built-in copper tub in the kitchen wing. The house was recognized as an outstanding regional example of eclectic late nineteenth-century architecture, blending Gothic Revival and Italianate elements in an outlying agricultural part of the county.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is an outstanding regional example of eclectic late nineteenth-century residential architecture in Yates County. It combines Gothic Revival and Italianate features. It remains an important example of mid to late nineteenth-century tastes and building practices in 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 94000957, listed August 24, 1994. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Dundee--Himrod Rd., Starkey |
|---|---|
| County | Yates County |
| Listed | August 24, 1994 |
| Reference number | 94000957 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1874 |
| Architectural style | Late Victorian/Stick/Eastlake (described as eclectic, with Gothic Revival and Italianate elements) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still used as a single dwelling; the original interior plan and historic fabric survive, and a cupola was removed in 1934. |
| Acreage | 36 |
| Coordinates | 42.54883, -76.97302 (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 94000957.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q8019015
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.