Simons General Store
Why it's listed
Simons General Store occupies a crossroads in the hamlet of Ancram, where New York State Route 82 meets Columbia County Route 7, facing a small triangular park. Built in 1873-74 by Martin Luther Hills, it is a rectangular clapboard building of three stories, though the slope of the site shows only two above ground on the south and east sides. A cupola crowns the flat roof, and an elaborate two-story porch with square posts and ornamental brackets marks the front. Inside, counters and showcases dating from 1874 to 1895 remain, along with early electrical fixtures from 1911 to 1915 and several ledgers. The store served as the area's department store, supplying farmers by wagon route and sending produce by rail to New York City. It also housed the post office for some years, and its porch served as a stage for park events, including the dedication of the World War I monument. E.J. Simons owned it from 1924 to 1971.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the store has served continuously as the commercial center, visual focal point and gathering place of the hamlet. It was the area's 'department store', received farm produce for rail shipment to New York City, and housed the post office. Its two-story porch served as a stage for public events, and the original furniture, fixtures and ledgers survive.
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 73001171, listed April 23, 1973. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Ancram Sq., Ancram |
|---|---|
| County | Columbia County |
| Listed | April 23, 1973 |
| Reference number | 73001171 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1873-1874 |
| Architect / builder | Martin Luther Hills (builder) |
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as in excellent condition, unaltered and on its original site, with commercial use and a private residence use checked; original counters, showcases and electrical fixtures remain. |
| Acreage | 0.8 |
| Within district | Taconic State Parkway |
| Coordinates | 42.05053, -73.63748 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
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 73001171.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7520484
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.