Benner House
Why it's listed
Built around 1739 at 77 Mill Street in Rhinebeck, this small stone house is a rare survivor of the German vernacular building tradition in the Hudson Valley. It has one story, a single room, a gable roof with the gable end facing the street, and restrained detailing limited to simple wooden trim and dressed stone lintels. A Dutch-type double door sits in the east bay of the front facade. A porch and a rear frame wing were added in the late nineteenth or early twentieth century. The house matters because it is the only one in Rhinebeck that keeps its original one-room plan, the form from which later two-room houses grew. Together with other early stone houses in the area, it helps explain how Palatine settlers built and lived in the eighteenth century. A member of the Benner family, which came from Upper Bavaria, is believed to have built it. Local tradition says the Methodist congregation held its first service there in 1791-2.
Significance in brief: It is argued to be a rare and distinctive example of eighteenth-century Hudson Valley German vernacular architecture. It is the only house in Rhinebeck that keeps its original one-room plan, the prototype from which later two-room houses evolved. It helps explain the building practices and living patterns of Palatine settlers.
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 87001067, listed July 9, 1987. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 77 Mill St., Rhinebeck |
|---|---|
| County | Dutchess County |
| Listed | July 9, 1987 |
| Reference number | 87001067 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Architect unknown; attributed to Johannes Benner |
| Architectural style | German vernacular building tradition (Hudson Valley regional stone house) |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Used as a private residence; condition listed as excellent. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 41.92068, -73.90954 (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 87001067.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q817834
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.