Mesick, Jacob P., House
Why it's listed
Set on 79 acres of farmland on the south edge of Claverack hamlet, this two-story frame farmhouse was built around 1840 in the Greek Revival style. It has a five-bay symmetrical front, a hipped roof with four chimneys, six-over-six windows and a center-hall double-pile plan. A rear wing holds the original kitchen, with a cooking fireplace and an iron heating kettle set into the brickwork. Inside, the parlors, bedrooms and hall keep most of their original woodwork, mantels and finishes, including French wallpaper in the stair hall. The front entrance was altered in the late nineteenth century and restored in the mid-twentieth century. Jacob P. Mesick bought the farm in 1831, ran it successfully, served in the New York State Assembly, and is believed to have built the house in the 1840s. The property was listed for its architecture. It is one of few Greek Revival buildings in the hamlet and reflects its prosperous farming past. A garage, a pole barn and a converted barn are non-contributing.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is a unique local example of Greek Revival residential architecture that shows how the style was absorbed into the local vernacular. Its intact form, floor plan, interior finishes, grand size and surviving farm setting add to its importance. It also reflects the hamlet's growth as a prosperous rural farming community in the mid-nineteenth century.
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 97000947, listed August 21, 1997. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 68 Van Wyck Ln., Claverack |
|---|---|
| County | Columbia County |
| Listed | August 21, 1997 |
| Reference number | 97000947 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | ca.1840 |
| Architectural style | Mid 19th Century / Greek Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still used as a single-family dwelling; the interior retains much original woodwork, mantels, doors, hardware and ca.1840 French wallpaper. Three non-contributing outbuildings stand on the property. |
| Acreage | 79 |
| Coordinates | 42.21398, -73.72641 (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 97000947.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6119085
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.