Silvernail Homestead
Why it's listed
Set in a hollow beside Poole Hill Road, south of the hamlet of Ancram in Columbia County, this timber-frame farmhouse grew in stages from an earlier story-and-a-half dwelling into a tall, five-bay Greek Revival main block with a rear ell and lean-to. Pedimented gable ends, corner pilasters, eared door and window surrounds and a porch with Doric piers define its look, while paneled doors and a turned newel post reflect Italianate influence. The property also includes a carriage barn and the foundation of a small second dwelling. The Silvernail family, Palatine German settlers on the former Livingston Manor, occupied the homestead for five generations. John Silvernail bought the farm from Robert LeRoy Livingston in 1825, an unusual sale in a region of tenant farms. By 1855 it was a large operation with 450 improved acres and a household of family and farm workers. The property was recognized for its architecture and for the family's settlement of the land.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is a well-preserved example of 19th-century rural domestic architecture in Columbia County, whose Greek Revival and Italianate features track the growth of the farming family that lived there. It is also tied to the Silvernail family, Palatine German settlers who farmed this land on the former Livingston Manor over five generations. It is listed under Criterion C for architecture and Criterion A for exploration/settlement.
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 10000332, listed June 11, 2010. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 383 Poole Hill Rd, Ancram |
|---|---|
| County | Columbia County |
| Listed | June 11, 2010 |
| Reference number | 10000332 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | c. 1800-c. 1860 |
| Architectural style | Mid-19th Century: Greek Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Current function is listed as single dwelling, the same as its historic function. Some interior areas were rebuilt after fire-related water damage. |
| Coordinates | 42.02963, -73.62268 (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 10000332.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7516756
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.