New York State Series: Stone Houses of Jefferson County (PDF)

Early settlers of Jefferson County, New York, found limestone and sandstone in easy abundance in riverbeds and outcroppings, and by 1855, built about 500 stone buildings.
In Stone Houses of Jefferson County, New York, local historians show their pride in these stone dwellings as they explore both the beauty and permanence of the stonework and the courage and ambition of the first owners. We learn how skilled masons worked the local stone and how double-faced stone walls were a protection against both fire and the region’s harsh winters.
Most settlers came from New England, New York, and Pennsylvania, but an influential group was from France. Many fought in the Revolutionary War or in the War of 1812 and built on cheap land in this newly opened territory that was a buffer against the British in Canada.
Their houses range from humble vernacular cottages to elegant mansions in the Federal and Greek Revival styles. Public buildings include hotels and taverns, churches and mills, a military barracks and hospital, a smithy and a jail.
Color and period photographs of 85 buildings document the origins and evolution of this community through the largely unrecognized value of its concentration of stone architecture.
Information on construction and preservation, including mortar recipes, are included to help current owners