Miller, Stephen, House
Also known as: Miller--Van Wyck House
Why it's listed
Built around 1790 on the south side of Route 23, east of the center of Claverack, this two-story frame house sits on a stone foundation under a bell-cast gambrel roof. Its symmetrical windows, center entrance and center-hall plan reflect the Federal style, while the flared roofline and Dutch-style doors show the builder's attachment to local Dutch building traditions. Stephen Miller, a descendant of early Palatine settlers, built it. He sold dry goods and ran an ashery, where farmers traded ashes used to make potash. His store operated until 1871. The farm lot of 23.4 acres still holds the store, a stone smokehouse, a privy and two joined barns, most dating from about 1790 or about 1870. A mid-nineteenth century wing, newer mantels and modern siding have changed the house, but original doors, plank floors and plaster walls survive. It is recognized as an example of vernacular architecture and of the local merchant class.
Significance in brief: The house is presented as a representative example of vernacular late eighteenth-century residential architecture in Claverack, combining Federal features with traditional Dutch Colonial elements such as the bell-cast gambrel roof and Dutch-style door. It is also tied to Stephen Miller, a shopkeeper and ashery operator, and reflects the mercantile class common in the hamlet. The surviving store, smokehouse, privy and barns record more than a century of use.
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 97000825, listed August 8, 1997. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 114 NY 23, Claverack |
|---|---|
| County | Columbia County |
| Listed | August 8, 1997 |
| Reference number | 97000825 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | ca.1790-ca.1870 |
| Architect / builder | Stephen Miller (builder/original owner; architect listed as n/a) |
| Architectural style | Early Republic/Federal, with Dutch Colonial elements |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still used as a single dwelling; the house has been altered by a mid-nineteenth century west addition, replaced mantelpieces and modern siding, but remains essentially intact. |
| Acreage | 23.4 |
| Coordinates | 42.22156, -73.72691 (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 97000825.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7609995
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.