Medina home on Salt Works Road recommended for National Register
Peters House considered outstanding example of Queen Anne style architecture
Photos courtesy of Christopher Schmidt: This Queen Anne-style residence on Salt Works Road has been recommended by the New York State Board for Historic Preservation to be included on the State and National Registers of Historic Places.
MEDINA – A Medina home in the Queen Anne architectural style has been recommended for inclusion on the State and National Registers of Historic Places.
The NYS Board of Historic Preservation met on June 4 and recommended the approval of the Peters House at 4018 Salt Works Rd. in Medina. The Board for Historic Preservation also recommended 19 other properties and districts for State and National Registers of Historic Places.
Constructed circa-1910 by George G. and Anna Peters, the two-story wood-frame residence is considered one of the finest and most intact examples of Queen Anne architecture in Western New York, said Christopher Schmidt, the current owner of the home.
More than a century after its construction, the houses continues to retain an exceptional degree of historic integrity, preserving many of the character-defining features that make the style so recognizable, he said.
“The Peters House is a fine example of the quality and craftsmanship that characterized residential construction during Medina’s period of growth and prosperity in the early twentieth century,” Schmidt said. “Its preservation allows future generations to appreciate both the architectural heritage and community history that helped shape Medina.”
Among the home’s most notable architectural elements are its asymmetrical façade, steeply pitched box gable roof, turret, bay windows, wrap-around porch, second-story porch alcove, overhanging eaves, classical columns, and decorative mix of clapboard siding and patterned shingles.
The residence is about 1 mile from Medina’s urban core. The house retains much of its original interior craftsmanship, including pine floors, wood trim, pocket doors, staircase, four-panel doors with original hardware, and extensive parlor woodwork, he said.
The property was recognized under National Register Criterion C for Architecture, reflecting its significance as a well-preserved example of the Queen Anne style. Despite modest updates over the years, including kitchen and bathroom renovations and porch modifications, the home continues to convey its historic appearance, materials, workmanship, and sense of place.
This photo from 1955 shows the horse racing oval by the property.
Beyond its architectural significance, the property occupies a site connected to an important chapter in Medina’s history. Prior to construction of the residence, portions of the property were part of the Medina Driving Park, a popular horse-racing and recreational venue established in 1871, Schmidt said. The Driving Park served as a social and entertainment center for the community, hosting horse races, bicycle competitions, football games, and other public events that drew visitors from throughout the region.
The listing on the State and National Registers of Historic Places recognizes the Peters House as an important cultural and architectural resource. Today, the Peters House stands as an enduring reminder of the village’s rich architectural legacy and the craftsmanship of a bygone era, ensuring that one of Medina’s historic treasures will continue to be appreciated for generations to come.
State and National Register listing can assist owners in revitalizing properties, making them eligible for various public preservation programs and services, such as matching state grants and federal and state historic rehabilitation tax credits.
“I encourage other owners of historic properties to explore historic designation and celebrate the unique history of their buildings,” Schmidt said. “There are many remarkable properties that deserve similar recognition.”
Once recommendations are approved by Kathy Moser, the commissioner of the NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, the sites will be listed in the New York State Register of Historic Places and then nominated to the National Register of Historic Places, where they are reviewed by the National Park Service. If approved they will be entered in the National Register.
Some other nearby sites that were recommended on June 4 for the State and National Registers of Historic Places include:
- Cobb’s Hill Historic District in Rochester, Monroe County
- Dunkirk Macaroni and Supply Company Building in Dunkirk, Chautauqua County
- Farmers and Mechanics Savings Bank in Lockport, Niagara County
- Bennett Apartments in Buffalo, Erie County
- Gates Manor Apartments in Buffalo, Erie County
- Perry High School in Perry, Wyoming
