Blinn-Pulver Farmhouse
Why it's listed
Built around 1814 at the southern edge of Chatham village, this two-story brick farmhouse once anchored a farm of roughly 125 acres. Its walls are laid in Flemish bond under a gabled roof, with a symmetrical five-bay front, white marble sills and lintels, and a modillioned cornice. The wide central bay carries a sidelit entrance below a three-part second-story window topped by a delicate semi-elliptical fanlight. A rear kitchen wing preserves a corbelled brick bake oven. Inside, a central hall plan, wide pine floors, Rumford-style fireplaces and an oval plaster ceiling medallion survive, though the interior is plain apart from the parlor woodwork. The house is considered a classic and relatively rare local example of Federal architecture, a vernacular cousin of the Vanderpoel House in Kinderhook. The Blinn family owned it from 1868 to 1944. Now vacant and deteriorated, it remains largely intact, and a local historical society has sought to acquire it.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is an intact, representative example of Federal period domestic architecture in Columbia County. Its brick construction, marble trim and semi-elliptical fanlight over the tripartite second-story window make it a relatively rare type in the north central part of the county. It is also one of the oldest buildings in Chatham village and retains a high degree of integrity despite years of neglect.
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 03000025, listed February 12, 2003. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 219 Hudson Ave., Chatham |
|---|---|
| County | Columbia County |
| Listed | February 12, 2003 |
| Reference number | 03000025 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | c. 1814 - early 20th century |
| Architect / builder | unknown |
| Architectural style | Early Republic: Federal |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as vacant and in deteriorated but surprisingly intact condition; the house is described as secure, and the Chatham Historical Society was negotiating to buy it for use as its headquarters and to address roof and rear-wall problems. |
| Acreage | 4.8 |
| Coordinates | 42.34924, -73.60334 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
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 03000025.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q4926783
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.