The Geneseo Historic District, previously known as the Main Street Historic District, is a historic district encompassing much of the village center of Geneseo, New York. Geneseo has a remarkably well-preserved 19th-century streetscape, with Victorian architecture embodying a picturesque style advocated by architect Andrew Jackson Downing. The district was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1977; an enlarged district was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1991.[2]
Geneseo was founded in 1790 by William and James Wadsworth, whose descendants exerted a significant influence on the development of the community. In addition to their philanthropic and business contributions to the town, the Wadsworths planted many oak trees, with the result that the village now has a large number of mature trees approaching 200 years or more in age. The town served as a market center for the surrounding rural agricultural areas in the first half of the 19th century, and was boosted economically by the establishment of a state normal school (now SUNY Geneseo) on a campus west of the village's commercial district. The downtown suffered a devastating fire in 1864, but was rebuilt.[3]
The district includes Geneseo's historic commercial center and its most refined residential neighborhood, plus the 102.8-acre (0.416 km2) estate of the Wadsworth family. That estate, The Homestead (Geneseo) was already separately listed in 1974. The district consists of 312 properties, of which 288 are contributing. The district's buildings are stylistically somewhat diverse, with Italianate and Queen Anne Victorian styles of the second half of the 19th century dominating. Many older homes, originally built in the Federal style, were later renovated into these styles.[3]
^ ab. National Historic Landmark summary listing. National Park Service. September 14, 2007. Archived from the original on June 6, 2011.
^ abcJeanette McClellan and Nancy O'Dea (November 30, 1990). "National Register of Historic Places Registration: Geneseo Historic District" (pdf). National Park Service. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help) and Accompanying 31 photos, exteriors, from 1975, 1983, and 1985. (6.75 MB)
External linksedit
Media related to Geneseo Historic District (Geneseo, New York) at Wikimedia Commons
January 01, 1970
geneseo, historic, district, previously, known, main, street, historic, district, historic, district, encompassing, much, village, center, geneseo, york, geneseo, remarkably, well, preserved, 19th, century, streetscape, with, victorian, architecture, embodying. The Geneseo Historic District previously known as the Main Street Historic District is a historic district encompassing much of the village center of Geneseo New York Geneseo has a remarkably well preserved 19th century streetscape with Victorian architecture embodying a picturesque style advocated by architect Andrew Jackson Downing The district was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1977 an enlarged district was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1991 2 Geneseo Historic DistrictU S National Register of Historic PlacesU S National Historic Landmark DistrictMain Street s Bear Fountain the best known symbol of Geneseo here decorated with flags for Memorial Day Show map of New YorkShow map of the United StatesLocationGeneseo New YorkCoordinates42 47 46 N 77 49 00 W 42 796237 N 77 816771 W 42 796237 77 816771Area608 acres 246 ha ArchitectClaude Bragdon et al original Robert Sherlock et al increase Architectural styleItalianate Federal Queen Anne original Mid 19th Century Revival Late 19th and 20th Century Revivals Late Victorian increase NRHP reference No 77000948 original 85000642 increase Significant datesAdded to NRHPJuly 9 1977Boundary increaseMarch 21 1985 1 Designated NHLDJuly 17 1991 2 Contents 1 Description and history 2 Properties 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksDescription and history editGeneseo was founded in 1790 by William and James Wadsworth whose descendants exerted a significant influence on the development of the community In addition to their philanthropic and business contributions to the town the Wadsworths planted many oak trees with the result that the village now has a large number of mature trees approaching 200 years or more in age The town served as a market center for the surrounding rural agricultural areas in the first half of the 19th century and was boosted economically by the establishment of a state normal school now SUNY Geneseo on a campus west of the village s commercial district The downtown suffered a devastating fire in 1864 but was rebuilt 3 The district includes Geneseo s historic commercial center and its most refined residential neighborhood plus the 102 8 acre 0 416 km2 estate of the Wadsworth family That estate The Homestead Geneseo was already separately listed in 1974 The district consists of 312 properties of which 288 are contributing The district s buildings are stylistically somewhat diverse with Italianate and Queen Anne Victorian styles of the second half of the 19th century dominating Many older homes originally built in the Federal style were later renovated into these styles 3 Properties editProperties included in the district include 3 Temple Hill Cemetery Avon Road east side The Hartford House c 1836 another Wadsworth family property Avon Road west side Soldiers Monument St Mary s Roman Catholic Church St Mary s Rectory Center Street north side Thirty residences and buildings from 3 Center Street up to 81 Center Street Central Presbyterian Church c 1939 Center Street south side 2nd St Wadsworth Library Geneseo Baptist Church Old Antheum Library to be expanded See also editNational Register of Historic Places listings in Livingston County New York List of National Historic Landmarks in New YorkReferences edit National Register Information System National Register of Historic Places National Park Service January 23 2007 a b Geneseo Historic District National Historic Landmark summary listing National Park Service September 14 2007 Archived from the original on June 6 2011 a b c Jeanette McClellan and Nancy O Dea November 30 1990 National Register of Historic Places Registration Geneseo Historic District pdf National Park Service a href Template Cite journal html title Template Cite journal cite journal a Cite journal requires journal help and Accompanying 31 photos exteriors from 1975 1983 and 1985 6 75 MB External links edit nbsp Media related to Geneseo Historic District Geneseo New York at Wikimedia Commons Geneseo New York Historic Landmark Village Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Geneseo Historic District amp oldid 1169064111, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
