Gilbert, Elisha, House
Why it's listed
Built in 1794 on the south side of U.S. Route 20 in New Lebanon Center, this two-story clapboarded house is topped by an unusually large gambrel roof. Elisha Gilbert, an early settler, mill operator and Revolutionary War militia officer, built it with a wide central hall, paneled parlors and a Palladian window above a pedimented porch. Its form, plan, framing and roof construction follow Connecticut precedent rather than the Dutch and German traditions common along the Hudson River side of the county. The attic was fitted out as a meeting hall for Unity Lodge No. 9 of the Freemasons, which used it from 1795 until 1850. Painted Masonic emblems, including King Solomon's Temple and the Beehive, survive on its walls, and the porch was designed as a symbol of the lodge. The Gilbert family occupied the house for more than a century. The property also includes the family cemetery and a nineteenth-century barn.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it an outstanding, virtually unaltered example of late eighteenth-century vernacular residential architecture that reflects Connecticut building traditions. Its attic holds the meeting room of Unity Lodge No. 9, with intact symbolic murals, described as the oldest extant lodge room in New York State. It is also tied to the locally prominent Gilbert 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 84002098, listed September 7, 1984. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | US 20, New Lebanon |
|---|---|
| County | Columbia County |
| Listed | September 7, 1984 |
| Reference number | 84002098 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1794 |
| Architectural style | Federal period vernacular, primarily reflecting pre-Revolutionary Georgian design and Connecticut frame building practices |
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Social History |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as virtually intact and well maintained; occupied as a private residence, with a 1920s service wing added at the northwest corner. |
| Acreage | 11.8 |
| Coordinates | 42.46925, -73.42897 (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 84002098.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5361759
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.