Bond, Col. William M. and Nancy Ralston, House - Lockport, NY - U.S. National Register of Historic Places on Waymarking.com

The Col. William Bond House is significant as an example of early 19th century domestic architecture in Lockport. The house was built in 1823, the same year the first stone was laid for the Erie Canal locks that gave Lockport its name. Over the course of the 19th and early 20th centuries, the house served as the residence for many members of the Bond, Hawley, and Ralston families, among Lockport's most prominent citizens. The Bond house posseses form and massing elements typical of the Federal style of architecture and also has features of Greek Revival which became popular in western New York during the canal era.

Col. William M. Bond was a member of the Ashuelit Cavalry of the New Hampshire State Militia. He married Nancy Ralston in Keene, NH in 1802. Nancy's sister, Elizabeth, married Jesse Hawley of Rochester. Along with Hawley, Bond was a land speculator. The Bond and Hawley families came to Lockport in 1821, along with John Bond, William's brother. John Bond was an attorney in Rochester, and together this group purchased many acres of land in anticipation of the canal being built.

In 1823, about the same time that construction of the Lockport locks began, the Bonds began building their brick home. They occupied the house for less than 10 years however. In 1831, all of Col. Bond's holdings in the Lockport area were seized to cover his debts. The house went to his brother-in-law Jesse Hawley. The Bonds relocated to Mount Morris, NY to live with their son James. Col. Bond died in 1854 and Nancy in 1858. Bond is remembered for having donated two acres of his land to Niagara County in 1821 when it was separated from Erie County. Subsequently, Lockport was named the county seat and new county buildings were built on the land that Bond had donated.

The house is open as a museum May-December on Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays from 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM.

Street address: 143 Ontario St Lockport, NY United States 14094 County / Borough / Parish: Niagara Year listed: 1995 Historic (Areas of) Significance: Architecture/Engineering Periods of significance: 1800-1824, 1900-1924 Historic function: Domestic: Single Dwelling Current function: Recreation and Culture: Museum Privately owned?: yes Season start / Season finish: From: 05/01/2007 To: 12/31/2007 Hours of operation: From: 1:00 PM To: 5:00 PM Primary Web Site: [Web Link] Secondary Website 1: Not listed Secondary Website 2: Not listed National Historic Landmark Link: Not listed

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