93 West Main Street

Now & Then: 93 West Main Street, Webster, NY

Now

 Known locally as the Dean House, this charming cobblestone residence at 93 West Main Street remains one of Webster’s most architecturally significant homes. Though currently a private residence, it stands as a visual reminder of the village’s early history and craftsmanship. 

Now home to Serenity Life, the Dean House serves children through counseling and art therapy. This circa 1840s landmark remains a cherished part of the community, where history and present-day care come together. 

In the 1980s, the property was purchased by James Cambery, who owns and operates the Maplewood Nursing Home just below the Dean House.  After extensive interior refurbishing, the old Dean House was converted into a training center for practical nurses and staff of the nursing home. 

1940's 

In 1944, 93 West Main Street functioned as a local Western Union station, handling telegrams and cablegrams for Webster residents. 

Dean Family Legacy

 The property was owned by the Dean family for over 70 years, giving the house its name. A historical marker placed by the Village of Webster recognizes its architectural and historical importance.

Mid-19th Century Origins

 Built around 1840, the Dean House is a rare example of fieldstone cobblestone construction with brick corner quoins. Cobblestone architecture is largely unique to the Rochester region, with over 75% of all American cobblestone buildings located within 75 miles of the city. Most were built between 1835 and 1860, often by masons who had worked on the Erie Canal.

Cobblestone houses were constructed with three distinct periods of building styles. The earliest period featured local masons using ordinary rounded, squarish, or broken fieldstones of varying shapes, sizes, and colors, while later periods introduced more uniform and carefully selected stones.

The house at 93 West Main Street is a notable example of this early construction style. Built using stones of diverse shapes and colors, the structure reflects the work of early local masons who relied on readily available fieldstones rather than the more uniform materials seen in later cobblestone buildings. The stones vary significantly in size, reaching several inches in length, highlighting the less standardized techniques of the time.

Commonly known as the Dean House, the building is believed to have been constructed by a man named Dean, further tying it to the area’s early history and craftsmanship.