Van Valkenburgh, James G. House
Why it's listed
Set on a 97.5-acre property at the eastern edge of Chatham Center in Columbia County, New York, this Greek Revival farmhouse dates from 1843 and was built for James G. Van Valkenburgh and his wife Eveline after their marriage. He was the only son of the hamlet's most prominent merchant and farmer. The two-story, five-bay house has a slate hip roof, engaged corner pilasters, a deep entablature and a front porch with four fluted Doric columns. Inside, it keeps original moldings, black marble mantels, a painted-ashlar hall and a service wing with a brick cooking fireplace, bake oven and a built-in kettle base in the cellar. Foundation stones carry the dates 1761 or 1764 and 1843, and framing from an earlier building was reused. Four other buildings survive: a garage, a well house and two barns, one of them a four-bay English barn. Listed for its architecture, the property remains an important landmark in the town of Chatham.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is a distinctive example of Greek Revival residential architecture that reflects the lifestyle of a prosperous rural household in Columbia County. It was built for James G. Van Valkenburgh, only son of the community's most prominent merchant and farmer, and retains most of its original moldings, doors, windows, fireplace surrounds and kitchen hearths. With its farmland and full range of outbuildings it is an important local landmark.
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 02000358, listed April 11, 2002. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 31 Co. Rd. 13, Chatham |
|---|---|
| County | Columbia County |
| Listed | April 11, 2002 |
| Reference number | 02000358 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1843 c. 1940's |
| Architect / builder | Unknown; the form says the house was undoubtedly built by a master builder yet to be identified. |
| Architectural style | Mid-19th Century: Greek Revival |
| Criteria |
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| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Currently a single-family dwelling; the owner has undertaken an extensive restoration, and a barn is being fitted as an apartment or guest house and the garage as a garden shed. |
| Acreage | 97.5 |
| Coordinates | 42.42158, -73.60812 (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 02000358.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6134400
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.