Stone Hospital
A Once-in-a-Generation Opportunity to Own a Piece of American History
The Sackets Harbor LDC is proud to present the Stone Hospital — a nationally significant landmark at Madison Barracks in Sackets Harbor, NY — for sale or restoration partnership.
The Property at a Glance
- Built: 1838–1839
- Location: Madison Barracks, Sackets Harbor, NY (Black River Bay, eastern shore of Lake Ontario)
- Architect: Believed to be Robert Mills — architect of the Washington Monument and the first professionally trained architect born in America
- Style: Greek Revival with Federal and Georgian elements; ashlar-cut native limestone
- Size: 9,900 sq ft of usable space across two stories and a raised basement, plus two single-story wings
- Historic Designation: Part of the Madison Barracks National Registry Historic District
- Significance: Believed to be the first permanent U.S. Army hospital ever built for that purpose
- Status: Exterior masonry restoration completed (2006); seeking buyer or restoration partner for next phases
One Building. Nearly 200 Years of American History.
The Stone Hospital is not just a building — it is a landmark of American military history that extends far beyond the borders of Sackets Harbor and New York State.
Constructed between 1838 and 1839 on the grounds of the then-active U.S. Army post at Madison Barracks, the Stone Hospital is believed to be the first permanent hospital built by the U.S. Army specifically for that purpose. Its construction marked a turning point in how the Army cared for its soldiers — replacing the completely unsatisfactory practice of treating the sick and wounded in shared living quarters.
Designed by the Architect of the Washington Monument
Evidence strongly suggests the Stone Hospital was designed by Robert Mills — the first professionally trained architect born in America, who studied under Thomas Jefferson and served as the official Architect and Engineer for the federal government. Mills also designed the magnificent Old Patent Office Building in Washington, D.C. The Stone Hospital's elegant limestone facade, Greek Revival lines, and finely crafted masonry are a testament to his legacy.
A Witness to American Military History
Throughout its more than one hundred years of service to the U.S. Army, the Stone Hospital witnessed some of the most storied chapters in American military history. The building served military leaders including Ulysses S. Grant — whose wife Julia wrote fondly of their time at Madison Barracks — and supported legendary units including the 9th Infantry Regiment and the 23rd Infantry's famed "Buffalo Soldiers," during their only posting east of the Mississippi River.
The Architecture
Saved From Collapse
Saved From Collapse
The building is a superb example of the Greek Revival style with Federal and Georgian elements. Its exterior features well-crafted masonry with dressed stone quoins at every corner and balustrades around the perimeter of the low-hipped roof. Above the main entrances are delicate cast iron balconies with wrought iron accents. Period photographs show louvered and paneled shutters at the windows and a widow's walk atop the roof — details that speak to a grandeur rarely seen in utilitarian military construction of the era.
Saved From Collapse
Saved From Collapse
Saved From Collapse
In recent decades, the Stone Hospital had fallen into serious disrepair. By the late 1990s, the west wall had deteriorated to the point that collapse of the entire structure was imminent. In 1999, the Sackets Harbor Area Cultural Preservation Foundation accepted the donation of the building and moved quickly to stabilize it.
By 2006, a full exterior masonry restoration had been completed — halting the deterioration for the first time in thirty years and eliminating the immediate threat of collapse. The Stone Hospital stands again. The next chapter is ready to be written.
Your Vision. This Building. This Community.
The Sackets Harbor Local Development Corporation has acquired the Stone Hospital and is now seeking the right buyer or restoration partner to carry this project forward.
Whether you are a developer, a preservation organization, a heritage tourism operator, or a visionary investor, this property offers something rare: a nationally significant historic building with a documented restoration plan, completed exterior work, and a supportive local development corporation ready to help you succeed.
This is not a distressed sale. This is an invitation to be part of something extraordinary.
What We're Looking For
We welcome conversations with:
- Buyers interested in acquiring the property and leading the restoration
- Restoration partners or investors interested in a collaborative development arrangement with the LDC
- Nonprofit or heritage organizations interested in establishing a cultural, museum, or interpretive use
- Developers with experience in historic rehabilitation and tax credit projects
The LDC is a locally governed agency. We are here to support a great outcome for this building and this community — not to stand in the way of one.
Madison Barracks & Sackets Harbor
The Stone Hospital sits within one of Northern New York's most remarkable historic settings — the Madison Barracks complex in the Village of Sackets Harbor, on the eastern shore of Lake Ontario at Black River Bay.
Sackets Harbor played a pivotal role in the War of 1812, serving as the headquarters of the U.S. military on the northern frontier and the most prolific naval shipyard in the country during that conflict. In the decades that followed, Madison Barracks served the nation in every major war through World War II.
Today, Madison Barracks is a vibrant mixed-use community. The Village of Sackets Harbor has undergone a dramatic renaissance over the past 25 years — its historic waterfront and architectural treasures have been rehabilitated, and it is now widely recognized as one of the gems of the North Country. It is home to first-rate restaurants, a top-rated K–12 school district, a new 3-mile waterfront trail, and a thriving tourism economy closely tied to nearby Fort Drum and the 1000 Islands region.
For a heritage tourism, cultural, residential, or mixed-use project, there may be no better address in Northern New York.
Ready to Learn More?
Contact the Sackets Harbor LDC to start the conversation.
Whether you're interested in purchasing the Stone Hospital, exploring a partnership with the LDC, or simply want to walk the property and hear the full story — we'd love to hear from you.
Stone Hospital
P.O. Box 214 Sackets Harbor, NY 13685
Interested in buying? We welcome you to reach out to Mike Campbell - Listing Realtor mcampbell@madisonbarracks.com 315-778-8027
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