Historic Landmarks

The three types of Historic Designation are:

Local Historic Landmark or District

In addition to being based on the National criteria and upholding the National guidelines, the local designation adds a process to protect against unwarranted demolition.   

New York State Register of Historic Places

To place a building or district meeting the National criteria on the New York State Register, an application is filed through the New York State Office of Historic Preservation.  Owners of property with this designation may be eligible for tax credits. 

National Register of Historic Places

After a building or district is placed on the NYS Registry, application can be made to the National Register.   Owners of historic income-producing real property may qualify for an income tax credit for rehabilitating the property. 

Four buildings (Drovers Inn, Rounds House, Vestal Central School, and Rounds Coal Company) and one district (Rivercrest) within the Town of Vestal have been designated as historic.

Drovers Inn – 1844 Built as a tavern and inn by Ransom Baty for John & Jacob Rounds, it was converted to a private home in 1855 for Jacob L. and Amanda Crandall Rounds.    Historic Designations: 2003 Local Historic Landmark 2009 New York State Register 2010 National Register
Rounds House – 1895 Designed by T.I. Lacy & Sons as the family residence of Fayette L. and Susie Knapp Rounds, a tower was added in 1912 increasing its size to 15 rooms.   Historic Designations: 2003 Local Historic Landmark 2009 New York State Register 2010 National Register
Rivercrest District – 28 Homes Built in the 1930s, the homes face the Vestal Parkway with the remnants of the Chenango Canal Extension towpath and prism at the back of the properties.    Historic Designations: 2009 Local Historic District 2009 New York State Register 2009 National Register Eligible	Photo courtesy of Roger Luther.
Vestal Central High School – 1939 Designed by T.I. Lacey & Sons and funded by the PWA, the school remains largely unchanged.   Historic Designations: 2010 New York State Register 2010 National Register
Rounds Coal Company The unique 1908 building, designed by architect C. A. Olmstead, had an arch through which empty trucks passed to be weighed empty and reweighed after loading with coal at the large tipple near the train station. The building was moved to a position straddling the Rail Trail in 2006.   Historic Designations: 2006 Local Historic Landmark