Clermont Academy
Why it's listed
Clermont Academy is a two-story, five-bay frame building on the west side of Route 9 in the hamlet of Clermont, Columbia County. Built about 1834 by Philip S. Staats on land donated by Edward P. Livingston, it has a gable roof with an octagonal cupola, pedimented gable ends with oval louvred vents, and a central doorway framed by sidelights and pilasters. Inside, a central hall serves a classroom and smaller rooms on the first floor, and an open meeting hall occupies the second floor. The school began as a private secondary school supported by tuition, with the Rev. Augustus Wackerhagen as first principal. In 1855 it became a public school and later a community center, which it remains today under town ownership. Although Greek Revival was becoming fashionable for public buildings, the academy was designed in the Federal style. It is considered the earliest surviving public building in the town and retains its original architectural integrity.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it a rare example of a large-scale Federal style educational building that keeps distinctive original details. It is also the earliest extant public building in the town and reflects Clermont's social and institutional development. It is tied to Edward P. Livingston and the Livingston family.
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 83003931, listed October 7, 1983. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | US 9, Clermont |
|---|---|
| County | Columbia County |
| Listed | October 7, 1983 |
| Reference number | 83003931 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Architect unknown; builder Philip S. Staats |
| Architectural style | Federal |
| Areas of significance | Education, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Owned by the town and used as a community center; condition listed as excellent, with no known threats. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Clermont Civic Historic District |
| Coordinates | 42.08683, -73.82556 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For a publicly owned building or structure, listing mainly matters when federal funds, permits or licences are involved: projects then go through Section 106 review so effects on the property are considered. Listing also strengthens applications for preservation grants and, for leased income-producing uses, can enable the federal rehabilitation tax credit.
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 83003931.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5131915
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.