Hartwell, W. W., House & Dependencies
Also known as: Regina Maria Retreat House
Why it's listed
Built around 1870 at 77 Brinkerhoff Street in Plattsburgh, this stone mansion was the residence of William W. Hartwell, a merchant and manufacturer who ran an iron foundry, flour mills, and lumber, grocery and hardware businesses. He also served as president of the village and of the local board of education. The house is described as the finest Second Empire building in the city, with a three-story mansard tower, polychrome hexagonal slate roof, heavily molded entablatures, brackets, stone keystones over arched windows, stained glass on the first floor, and a large original veranda. A stone carriage house with arched openings matching the main house survives, though its roof has been altered. A clapboard groundskeeper's cottage of about 1885 shows Colonial Revival styling. The estate keeps its original park and garden setting and a high degree of integrity, and remains in good to excellent condition on a 1.9-acre site.
Significance in brief: The inventory calls the main house the finest example of Second Empire architecture in Plattsburgh, noting its stone construction and remarkable integrity. It retains its original park and garden setting with carriage house and cottage. It is also tied to Hartwell (1821-1891), a prominent local merchant, manufacturer and civic leader. The evaluation sheet recommends acceptance under Criteria A and C.
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) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 82001105, listed November 12, 1982. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 77 Brinkerhoff St., Plattsburgh |
|---|---|
| County | Clinton County |
| Listed | November 12, 1982 |
| Reference number | 82001105 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Builder: William W. Hartwell |
| Architectural style | Second Empire (main house); Colonial Revival (groundskeeper's cottage) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Social History |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Main house in excellent condition; used as a sisters' residence (Regina Maria Retreat House); cottage in excellent condition and still a residence. |
| Acreage | 1.9 |
| Coordinates | 44.69641, -73.45843 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary for a privately owned home: it does not by itself restrict what an owner may do with their own money, and it does not require public access. Restrictions come from local landmark or historic-district ordinances, which are separate (how they differ).
Owner-occupied houses are not eligible for the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit, which applies to income-producing buildings, but many states offer credits for homeowners. Listing also opens the door to preservation easements and to buying a plaque. Start with what listing means for homeowners, renovating a listed house and selling one.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 82001105.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14707617
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.