Wrightman, Dr. James, House
Why it's listed
Built around 1872 for Dr. James Wrightman, this stone house at 48 West Lake Road in Branchport, Yates County, sits on a village lot beside Keuka Lake. It rises two stories from a stone foundation under a complex slate-shingled roof with three ornate paneled brick chimneys. Windows have smooth stone sills and lintels, and the front facade is marked by a projecting bay with a flared gable and decorative wood trim, plus an elaborate entrance porch. Inside, carved wood mantles, paneled doors, a scroll-sawn balustrade and carved newel posts survive, and the room layout remains largely intact. The nomination presents the house as an outstanding regional example of Gothic Revival inspired domestic architecture, reflecting the Picturesque ideals popularized by pattern-book authors of the mid-nineteenth century. It also serves as a local landmark that recalls the area's late-nineteenth century growth. A rear porch was enclosed around 1940, and a modern garage and shed stand nearby.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is an outstanding regional example of late nineteenth century Gothic Revival inspired residential architecture in Yates County. It retains asymmetrical massing, a steeply pitched complex roof, gable trim, an ornate entrance porch and elaborate interior woodwork. It is also described as an important local landmark recalling the area's late-nineteenth century development.
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 94000970, listed August 24, 1994. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 48 W. Lake Rd., Branchport |
|---|---|
| County | Yates County |
| Listed | August 24, 1994 |
| Reference number | 94000970 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | ca. 1870 |
| Architectural style | Late Victorian / Queen Anne-Eastlake (described in the significance statement as Gothic Revival inspired) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still used as a single dwelling. The interior is described as highly intact, and an enclosed two-story rear porch was added around 1940. A modern garage and shed stand on the lot. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.59128, -77.15081 (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 94000970.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5304177
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.