Description: The earliest part of the house at 4194 Lake Road once faced Lake Road. It is a frame, story-and-a-half three-bay house with a side hall. Its Federal style entrance features slender pilasters and half-sidelights. Constructed about 1812, it is of the two earliest buildings (along with rear wing of 7831 Jay Street) still standing in Pultneyville. In 1866, according to the Pultneyville Commercial Press, “Captain John Palmer is to erect a brick house in this place on the site of his old one.” At that time, this wing was turned around to become the back of the brick Italianate structure that stands today. One of only two Italianate buildings in the village, it is a classic example of this style, square in form with a low roof, bracketed eaves, and cupola. 

Discussion: Captain John Palmer was born in 1820 in New York State. In 1850, he commanded a schooner named The Albion.  He and his wife Johanna had two sons, born in 1856 and 1857. 

In interview on October 29, 2007, Chester Peters, Historian for the Town of Williamson, described a visit to the home of Mrs. Ashmead (born about 1847), where she was being visited by her cousin Mrs. Lawrence. Mrs. Ashmead reported that, as a young girl she lived on the corner of Jay Street and Pig Lane (behind the Palmer house). Her aunt had taken her to visit the Palmer house “and showed her the slaves that were secreted in the attic.” 

A Robert Palmer, perhaps a relative of John Palmer, lived in the Sodus Bay Phalanx and attended the second annual meeting of the Western New York Anti-Slavery Society, held in Rochester in February 1845.