Free Church Parsonage
Why it's listed
Overlooking the Hudson River in the hamlet of Rhinecliff, this one and one-half story cottage was built around 1869 as a rectory for the Rhinecliff Episcopal Church, whose building stood across the street and burned in the 1970s. Funds came from Mary Morton Miller, a local philanthropist related to many of Rhinebeck's prominent families. The house has board-and-batten siding, a cross-gable roof, paired windows with Gothic and rounded-arch transoms, and polygonal bay windows. A broad front verandah was added in the early twentieth century. Its restrained decoration follows the rural cottage ideals of Andrew Jackson Downing. Inside, the double-pile plan with a center hall, original molded woodwork and a large kitchen fireplace remain largely intact. A dry-laid stone wall runs along the front of the lot. The property was listed as a rare, well-preserved example of Gothic Revival design in Rhinecliff and a reminder of the hamlet's mid-nineteenth century growth.
Significance in brief: The nomination presents it as a distinctive, intact example of Picturesque Gothic Revival rural cottage architecture in the tradition of Andrew Jackson Downing and Alexander Jackson Davis. It is also tied to the Rhinecliff Episcopal Church and to philanthropist Mary Morton Miller, who funded it. Its surviving riverside setting and dry-laid stone wall add to its significance.
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 87001090, listed July 9, 1987. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Jct. of William and Grinnell Sts., Rhinecliff |
|---|---|
| County | Dutchess County |
| Listed | July 9, 1987 |
| Reference number | 87001090 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Picturesque Gothic Revival (Hudson River Gothic, Carpenter Gothic board-and-batten cottage) |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Currently a private residence in good condition on its original site; the interior retains its original room layout and much original fabric. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Hudson River Heritage Historic District |
| Coordinates | 41.91756, -73.95204 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
Religious properties are listed for their architectural or historical significance, not their religious use. Listing is honorary and does not restrict the congregation's use of the building. The federal rehabilitation credit is generally unavailable unless part of the building is income-producing; some state programmes and preservation grants do cover religious buildings. Federal funding or permits trigger Section 106 review.
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 87001090.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5499772
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.