Porter, Rev. Dr. Elbert S., House
Also known as: "Oakledge"
Why it's listed
Oakledge is a Greek Revival house built in 1846 on the west side of Route 9H in Claverack, Columbia County. It sits well back from the road on a steep shale ledge planted with oaks, some dating from the time of construction. The two-story frame main block has a pedimented gable, a square-columned porch across the front, and a side-hall entrance with sidelights and a top light. Small single-story wings flank the main block, and because the house is built into the hillside, a finished cellar level opens onto the rear grade. Inside are paired parlors with slate mantels painted to resemble black marble. The rear windows look through an enclosed porch toward the Catskill Mountains, a deliberate framing of the view that reflects the emerging Picturesque Movement. The house is valued as a well-preserved rural Greek Revival design. Rev. Dr. Elbert S. Porter, a Brooklyn pastor and editor, used it as a summer retreat. Three later outbuildings stand behind it.
Significance in brief: The house is argued to be an unusually well-preserved and well-articulated example of rural Greek Revival domestic architecture, with high integrity inside and out. Its hillside siting and windows framing views of the Catskill Mountains are described as a rare local example of the emerging Picturesque Movement. It was also the summer retreat of Rev. Dr. Elbert S. Porter, a Brooklyn pastor and editor.
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 97000949, listed August 21, 1997. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 6163 NY 9H, Claverack |
|---|---|
| County | Columbia County |
| Listed | August 21, 1997 |
| Reference number | 97000949 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1846 |
| Architectural style | Mid 19th Century / Greek Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still in use as a single-family dwelling; described as retaining a high degree of integrity despite some limited changes, including a modern kitchen. |
| Acreage | 2.5 |
| Coordinates | 42.20361, -77.36921 (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 97000949.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7317673
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.