Located on the western shore of Keuka Lake at the intersection of Routes 35 and 37, the Waterford Historic District consists of eighteenth-, nineteenth-, and twentieth-century buildings. The district encompasses the governmental and commercial center of Waterford, but also includes many residential and religious buildings. The Town of Waterford was first surveyed in 1775 and the first European-American settler to arrive in this area (known as "The Flats" for its even topography among several hills) was Eli Longley in 1793. He bought a large swath of land and in 1797 built a tavern to accommodate the many travelers passing through Waterford. The tavern stands today, though it was altered in the nineteenth century with a two-story porch and is known as the Lake House (pictured below). Longley then subdivided much of his land for house lots and the Common, creating the village of Waterford. Longley's lots sold well and the discovery of a nearby mineral spring, touted as having healing properties, encouraged the establishment of a spa for women. As a result, the town became a popular tourist destination by the latter part of the nineteenth century.
Year Listed: 1980
For more information: https://npgallery.nps.gov/NRHP/AssetDetail?assetID=25dd2f35-8886-43dd-9225-9553bd8262b1