Stone houses of Jefferson County : edited by Maureen Hubbard Barros, Brian W. Gorman, and Robert A. Uhlig ; [foreword by John B. Johnson Jr.] ; photography by Richard Margolis

Jefferson County, New York, has one of the richest concentrations of stone houses in America. As many as 500 limestone houses, churches, and commercial buildings were built there before 1860. Some of the buildings are beautiful mansions built by early entrepreneurs, and others are small vernacular farmhouses. Some are clustered together; others dot the countryside near limestone outcroppings. Embedded in the fabric of each building are the stories of its location, its maker, and those who have lived there. Lavishly illustrated with almost 300 photographs, this volume highlights eighty-five stone houses in the region. The editors explore both the beauty and permanence of the stonework and the courage and ambition of the early dwellers. They detail the ways in which skilled masons utilized local limestone and sandstone, crafting double-faced stone walls to protect against fire and harsh winters. The book includes detailed discussions of the geology of the region, the stone buildings that have been lost, and the preservation and care of existing structures. Stone Houses of Jefferson County provides a fascinating look at the intrinsic beauty of these buildings and the historical links they provide to our early settlement. Jefferson County, New York, has one of the richest concentrations of stone houses in America. As many as 500 stone houses, churches, and commercial buildings were built there before 1860. Some of the buildings are beautiful mansions built by early entrepreneurs; others are small vernacular farmhouses. Some are clustered together; others dot the countryside near stone outcroppings. Embedded in the fabric of each building are the stories of its location, its maker, and its inhabitants over time. Lavishly illustrated with almost 300 photographs, this volume highlights eighty-five stone houses in the region. The editors explore both the beauty and permanence of the stonework and the courage and ambition of the early dwellers. They detail the ways in which skilled masons utilized local limestone and sandstone, crafting double-faced stone walls to protect against fire and harsh winters. The book includes discussions of the geology of the region, the stone buildings that have been lost, and the preservation and care of existing structures. Stone Houses of Jefferson County provides a fascinating look at the intrinsic beauty of these buildings and the historical links they provide to our early settlement. c2 1 ff2 2 Barros Final 3 Contents 9 Foreword 11 Acknowledgments 13 Introduction 19 Part One. Towns South of the Black River, Inland 31 Part Two. Towns South of the Black River, Bordering Lake Ontario 63 Part Three. Towns North of the Black River, Bordering Lake Ontario or the St. Lawrence River 97 Part Four. Towns North of the Black River, Inland 153 Part Five. Building with Stone 181 Appendix a : Stone Structures Surveyed 211 Appendix b: Masons, Architects, Builders, and Their Works 217 Glossary 219 Bibliography 223 Biographical Notes 229 Index 231 bf2 239 bc2 240