79 Center Street

This large, imposing house was built in 1889 by James Colt for his father Henry V. Colt. The original small house on the property was moved back to 46 Oak Street and remodeled. Henry Colt was born in Geneseo in 1826, educated at Temple Hill Academy and prepared for the practice of law in the office of Governor John Young.  He married Sarah Shepard of Geneseo in 1849. He served in the Civil War and attained the rank of Major.  After the war, he returned to Geneseo where he served as Postmaster and president of the village. Mrs. Colt died in 1900 and after Mr. Colt’s death in 1906 this house was sold to William Shirley. Mr. and Mrs. James Welch became the owners in 1946 and after their deaths it was purchased by Michael and Anne Bishop. The Bishops resided there for approximately 20 years and sold the property to Bob and Julie Meyers in 2003.

Preservationist architect Paul Malo says this is “one of the finest and purest examples of the Queen Anne style seen in New York State…It is a complex and masterful design.”