Cannon-Brownell-Herrington Farmstead
Why it's listed
This farmstead on Otter Creek Road in the Town of Pittstown, Rensselaer County, grew from land that Silas Herrington Jr. began assembling in 1807 and that reached about 165 acres by 1821. The surviving buildings reflect later generations of farming. The frame house has an east wing and ell from about 1830, with a larger central block and west wing added about 1870 in Italianate style. A bank barn from about 1862 and a hay barn from about 1895 form the core of the main dairy barn group. Melvin Quackenbush built the sheep barn in 1899 and the horse barn in 1902, which includes a wool storage and packing area. A corn crib and a family burial plot complete the historic group. The property was listed for its intact collection of buildings showing regional farm construction and for its long agricultural use, with a period of significance running from 1807 to 1962. It remains a working farm.
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 | 1807-1962 |
|---|---|
| Styles | Mid-19th Century and Early Republic; house with Greek Revival and Italianate details |
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Agriculture |
| Acreage | 195 |
| Boundary source | NPS cultural-resource GIS polygon |
| Full listing page | Cannon-Brownell-Herrington Farmstead (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.