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919 Mill Road, West Seneca, NY 14224 Local Landmark Applica on On behalf of the Town of West Seneca Historic Preserva on Commission, I respec ully submit this nomina on for Local Landmark status for the property located at 919 Mill Road, historically known as the Lower Ebenezer Society House and the Community of True Inspira on Residence, and currently home to the West Seneca Historical Society Museum. This nomina on includes a descrip on of the site’s current condi on, documenta on of its historical significance, and related suppor ng materials. Site Descrip on and History: The residence known today as the Lower Ebenezer Society House was constructed in stages between 1843 and 1855 by the Community of True Inspira on, a communal German religious society more commonly referred to locally as the Ebenezer Society. This building is a rare surviving example of their vernacular residen al architecture and communal living prac ces. Originally designed to house two families, the Zuber and Burgy households, the structure s ll retains essen al architectural elements associated with the Ebenezer’s shared-living ideology: a central hallway, shared entrance, and absence of private kitchens, reflec ng a communal food prepara on model typical of the society’s lifestyle. In the late 1800s, following the decline of the communal se9lement, the building was purchased and modified by the Mayer family, who made adapta ons aligned with emerging American domes c expecta ons, including the addi on of a rear kitchen/dining wing in the 1870s. In 1956, the structure was relocated from its original site on Main Street to 919 Mill Road in order to preserve it from demoli on amid increasing development pressures. A small museum annex was added at that me to support its evolving public use. The house was formally transferred to public stewardship in 1962, and it has operated ever since as the West Seneca Historical Society Museum. In 2013, the property was listed on both the State and Na onal Registers of Historic Places due to its architectural and cultural significance. The building is a 1½-story, wood-frame structure with a gable roof, constructed in a vernacular style that clearly expresses the architectural principles of the Ebenezer communal movement. Key original features remain intact, including: A four-paneled front door (slightly modified with modern materials for safety and weatherproofing), Wide plank wood flooring, par cularly visible in the upstairs bedrooms, and the original central hallway and plan that defined its communal purpose. Later changes, including the rear wing (1870s) and display annex (1956), are visually and materially dis nct from the original structure. These addi ons demonstrate a natural evolu on of use and adapta on over me while preserving the building’s architectural integrity.