Young-Leach Cobblestone Farmhouse and Barn Complex
Why it's listed
Built in 1836 on the east side of Route 14 in Torrey, this cobblestone farmhouse anchors a 102.2-acre farm that is still mostly cultivated. The two-story, five-bay, center-hall main block has a one-story side wing. Its walls are made of variously colored field cobbles laid in a rough herringbone pattern, with unusually small limestone quoins at the corners. Details include fluted Doric columns at the entrance, six-over-six windows with stone lintels, and louvered lunettes in the gable ends. An informal ballroom survives in the attic. Behind the house stand a dairy barn, a smaller barn, a shed, a machine shed and a corn crib from the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. The house is significant as a largely intact cobblestone building and as a vernacular Federal/Greek Revival farmhouse. Its herringbone masonry is an early use of the technique in New York and one of only two examples in Yates County. Widening of Route 14 has reduced the front yard.
Significance in brief: The house is significant under architecture as a largely intact example of cobblestone construction in New York State. It is also a representative example of vernacular Federal/Greek Revival rural domestic architecture in the Finger Lakes region. Its herringbone cobble pattern is an early use of the technique statewide and one of only two examples of it in Yates County. The surviving farm outbuildings support the setting and feeling of the farmstead.
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 92000440, listed May 11, 1992. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 2601 NY 14, Torrey |
|---|---|
| County | Yates County |
| Listed | May 11, 1992 |
| Reference number | 92000440 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | ca. 1836 - ca. 1920s |
| Architectural style | Mid-19th century; vernacular late Federal/early Greek Revival |
| Criteria |
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| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The farmhouse is still in single-dwelling use, and most of the farm is under cultivation. Widening of Route 14 has taken much of the front yard and trees. |
| Acreage | 102.2 |
| Coordinates | 42.63780, -76.93900 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
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 92000440.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q8057836
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.