CORTLAND, NY (607NewsNow) – A Cortland building could be added to the State and National Registers of Historic Places.
On December 4, Governor Hochul announced that the Benton-Sherwood House is among 19 nominees in New York.
The building at 79 Central Avenue is being recognized for its association with Jeannette Benton Sherwood. A key organizer of the Women’s Club Movement of the early 20th century, she lived in the home from 1899 to 1921.
Sherwood wore many hats. She served as chair of the Cortland Fresh Air Committee and chair of the statewide Victory War Fund during World War I. Additionally, she founded and served as president of the Cortland County Historical Society, participated in the Women’s Suffrage Movement, and was a board member of the New York Historical Association.
“The history of the people of New York is imprinted in the architecture and places around us,” Governor Hochul said. “These nominations to the State and National Registers show our commitment to preserving New York’s rich and diverse story and making it accessible for future generations. By recognizing these landmarks and the people behind them, we are strengthening our communities, boosting local pride, and ensuring that history remains a living part of New York’s future.”
The building needs work. If approved, it would become eligible for preservation grants, as well as state and federal historic rehabilitation tax credits.
Read more about the nominees here.

