Ludlow-Van Rensselaer House
Why it's listed
This two-story brick house on Route 23B in Claverack was built around 1784 by William Henry Ludlow, a merchant who came from New York City during the Revolution. It has a center hall, five bays across, a gable roof of wood shingles and a stone foundation. The original three-bay, side-hall house was enlarged soon after, before about 1790, using bricks from Ludlow's own kiln. A Greek Revival portico with fluted Ionic columns was added later. Inside, a central hall runs into the rear wing, with an original staircase related to the one in Ludlow's larger mansion next door. Tradition holds that the Ludlow family lived here while that mansion was being built, and the house later became a rental for leading citizens. Its fine, smooth brickwork and English-influenced plan stood out in a largely Dutch community. It was listed for its architectural significance as a regional example of Federal-era design, with a period of significance of ca. 1784 to ca. 1840. It remains a private home.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is a fine regional example of Federal-era residential architecture. Its center-hall plan, fine staircase and distinctive brick made at Ludlow's own kiln introduced an English-style design into a predominantly Dutch community. It set the stage for later architectural developments in the hamlet.
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 97000945, listed August 21, 1997. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 465 NY 23B, Claverack |
|---|---|
| County | Columbia County |
| Listed | August 21, 1997 |
| Reference number | 97000945 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | ca.1784-ca1840 |
| Architect / builder | William Henry Ludlow (builder, per narrative; form lists Architect/Builder as n/a) |
| Architectural style | Early Republic/Federal |
| Criteria |
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| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still in use as a single dwelling; the property also has two noncontributing modern outbuildings, a garage/apartment and a sculpture studio. |
| Acreage | 5 |
| Coordinates | 42.22537, -73.74632 (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 97000945.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6698831
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.