Vine Valley Methodist Church
Why it's listed
Vine Valley Methodist Church is a small wood frame church built in 1891 at the corner of Vine Valley and Robeson Roads in Middlesex, Yates County. It measures 30 by 52 feet, sits on a stone foundation, and has a steep gable roof and a two-stage tower at the southeast corner. Clapboard and rounded-butt shingles cover the walls, and the tower has a flared pyramidal roof. Buttresses, pointed-arch windows with stained glass, and a large Gothic arched front window reflect Gothic Revival design, while the mixed siding and flared tower stage reflect the Queen Anne style. Inside, a vestibule doubling as a Sunday school room can be opened to the nave through folding doors, following the Akron Plan. The original curved pews, altar furnishings and woodwork survive. The church was listed for its architecture as a well-preserved local example of late nineteenth century eclectic church design and as a landmark of the area's development.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the church is an outstanding, well-preserved example of late nineteenth century eclectic religious architecture combining Gothic Revival and Queen Anne elements. It also reflects the Akron Plan, an important innovation in church building in Yates County. It survives virtually intact and is an important local 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 94000958, listed August 24, 1994. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Robeson Rd., Middlesex |
|---|---|
| County | Yates County |
| Listed | August 24, 1994 |
| Reference number | 94000958 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1891 |
| Architectural style | Late Victorian/Queen Anne, with Gothic Revival elements |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still in religious use; the form says it survives virtually intact inside and out from its construction period. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.72386, -77.32454 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
Religious properties are listed for their architectural or historical significance, not their religious use. Listing is honorary and does not restrict the congregation's use of the building. The federal rehabilitation credit is generally unavailable unless part of the building is income-producing; some state programmes and preservation grants do cover religious buildings. Federal funding or permits trigger Section 106 review.
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 94000958.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7932390
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.