Coons House
Why it's listed
Built around 1850 on the east side of Route 9G in Clermont, this two-story, three-bay Greek Revival house is clad in clapboard over a wood frame. A prominent two-story front portico forms a pedimented temple front, and the side entrance has pilasters, sidelights and a transom light. Windows are regularly spaced, with 6/6 sash on the first story and 3/6 above. A one-story gabled ell extends from the south side, and original interior detailing remains intact. A woodshed and a gabled frame barn on the roughly 15.5-acre parcel also contribute. The house is described as the only fully developed temple-form example in the town. Its modest scale, moldings and polygonal columns show a relaxed reading of classical style at mid-century. It faces the entrance to Levinus Clarkson's estate, later the site of Clarkson Chapel. Its relationship to the Livingston family is unknown, but its placement and modesty suggest an important yet dependent estate function or employee.
Significance in brief: The house is presented as a distinctive example of Greek Revival residential architecture, and the only fully developed temple-form house in the town. Its restrained details and polygonal columns reflect a relaxed, mid-century interpretation of the classical style. Its location opposite the entrance to Levinus Clarkson's estate ties it to the Clermont estates.
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 83003932, listed October 7, 1983. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | NY 9G, Clermont |
|---|---|
| County | Columbia County |
| Listed | October 7, 1983 |
| Reference number | 83003932 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition listed as excellent with original site and original interior detailing intact; an extension was made to the south wing. Still used as a residence, with no known threats. |
| Acreage | 15 |
| Within district | Hudson River Heritage Historic District |
| Coordinates | 42.09256, -73.89484 (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 83003932.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5167696
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.