Wilbor, The, House
Also known as: The Thompson Farm
Why it's listed
Built around 1790 on County Route 13 in Old Chatham, this two-story timber-frame house sits on a raised fieldstone foundation beneath a gable roof, with a one-and-one-half-story wing and a woodshed extending east. Its symmetrical five-bay front has a six-panel door with sidelights and pilasters, topped by a Palladian window. Reeded corner boards, a dentiled cornice and ornate window surrounds complete the Federal detailing. Inside, a center-hall plan, wide plank floors and some original fireplaces and mantels survive, though several finishes were replaced in the twentieth century. The builder is unknown. The house was later owned by the prominent Wilbor family. Edward G. Wilbor, elected to the United States Senate in 1866, inherited the farm, and his son Frederick, a civil engineer, later lived there. It was listed as a representative local example of late Federal architecture that retains a high degree of integrity.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is an intact, representative local example of late Federal era residential design in the town of Chatham. It notes the finely crafted door surround, Palladian window, reeded corner boards, denticulated cornice and elaborate window surrounds. The house also keeps a high degree of integrity in form, floor plan, exterior moldings and setting, despite the loss of some interior finishes.
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 97000567, listed June 30, 1997. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 0.25 mi. NE of jct. of I-90 and Thorne Rd., Old Chatham |
|---|---|
| County | Columbia County |
| Listed | June 30, 1997 |
| Reference number | 97000567 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | ca.1790-ca.1820 |
| Architectural style | Early Republic/Federal |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Historic and current use is a single-family dwelling; a small non-contributing shed stands on the property. |
| Acreage | 1.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.44549, -73.55936 (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 97000567.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7774823
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.