Beardslee Farm
Why it's listed
Beardslee Farm is a 256-acre agricultural district on flat, fertile land beside the Unadilla River in Pittsfield, Otsego County. Jabez Beardslee began assembling the property around 1799, and the family farmed it for generations. The farmhouse grew in three stages: a c1790 tavern moved to the site, a c1800 section, and a larger 1810 Federal-style block later given Italianate details. Nearby stand a horse barn, carriage house and corn house built in 1855, a pump house from the 1920s, and a draft-style hop barn from the 1860s. A small Fairchild family cemetery and the site of an earlier farm lie to the north. The farm reflects the shift from hop growing to dairying. Jabez Dwight Beardslee sold early NATCO silos and helped found the Dairymen's League of New York State in 1911. The family also held local offices, including Pittsfield town supervisor.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · catalog entry. Generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29).
| Period of significance | c1799-c1946 |
|---|---|
| Styles | Early Republic; Mid-19th Century (farmhouse is a vernacular Federal/Adam style with Italianate details added in 1856) |
| Areas of significance | Agriculture, Social History, Architecture |
| Acreage | 256 |
| Boundary source | NPS cultural-resource GIS polygon |
| Full listing page | Beardslee Farm (property record) |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.