Kelly Round Barn
Approximate location: the National Park Service places this pin arbitrarily within the property, not at a surveyed point (stated accuracy ±12 m).
Why it's listed
Built around 1893 on a hillside near the east branch of the Delaware River at Halcottsville, this circular dairy barn measures about 90 feet across and rises two stories under a low conical roof. A taller bridge runs east to west across the top, reaching the hillside on the east and ending in a gable wall on the west. Inside, 51 stanchions ringed a central silo on the ground floor, while the upper level held hay storage. The barn was designed by Jason Whimple for Hiram Kelly. It is considered significant as one of the earliest fully round barns in New York and one of the first with a central round silo. Its light stud and laminated-plate framing appears to reflect the influence of Franklin H. King's 1890 Wisconsin barn. The grade-level bridge, which allowed both silo and hay mow to be filled, took advantage of the slope. The barn is now unused and deteriorated.
Significance in brief: The barn is argued to be one of the earliest entirely round barns in New York and among the first to have a round silo at its center. It uses light-member balloon framing with laminated plates. It also has a grade-level bridge that passes through the attic over the silo from a hillside ramp, making use of the sloping site.
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 84003857, listed September 29, 1984. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | NY 30, Halcottsville |
|---|---|
| County | Delaware County |
| Listed | September 29, 1984 |
| Reference number | 84003857 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Jason Whimple, designer; Hiram Kelly, owner |
| Architectural style | Central plan (round) dairy barn |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Unused and in deteriorated condition; local organizations were considering adaptive use. |
| Acreage | 2 |
| Coordinates | 42.20047, -74.59637 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
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 84003857.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6386272
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.