Ludlow, William Henry, House
Why it's listed
Built in 1786 for grain merchant William Henry Ludlow, this brick house at 465 Route 23B stands in the center of Claverack, set close to the former Columbia Turnpike. It is a five-bay, two-and-one-half-story Georgian dwelling with a gambrel roof, raised stone-and-brick foundation and a classically inspired entrance topped by a Palladian window. Dutch-style doors and a native stone foundation give it a vernacular touch. Inside, a broad central hall is flanked by two rooms on each side, and the original staircase, plaster walls, wide plank floors and mantels survive. The four-acre property also holds a stone summer kitchen and smokehouse, a root cellar, stone gate posts and a turnpike mile marker reading "Mile 3 from Hudson." Ludlow was a prosperous merchant and civic figure, and visitors included Governor John Jay. Later descendants included Robert Fulton Ludlow, who set up a Fulton Museum in the front parlor. The house is valued for its architecture and its exceptional integrity.
Significance in brief: The house is presented as an outstanding regional example of late Georgian architecture in the Hudson River Valley. It keeps its original form, floor plan, mantels, doors and hardware to a remarkable degree. It is also tied to the Ludlow family, among the community's most influential, and recalls the early development of Claverack.
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 97000826, listed August 8, 1997. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 465 NY 23B, Claverack |
|---|---|
| County | Columbia County |
| Listed | August 8, 1997 |
| Reference number | 97000826 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1786 - ca.1803 |
| Architectural style | COLONIAL/Georgian |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Used as a single dwelling, as it was historically; the form describes it as remarkably intact, with very little done to disturb its architectural integrity. |
| Acreage | 4 |
| Coordinates | 42.22490, -73.74560 (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 97000826.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q8012086
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.