Gregory House
Why it's listed
Built around 1869 at 140 South Cherry Street, this Second Empire house in Poughkeepsie was first owned by Alexander Gregory, a farmer whose family held large acreage in the area. At the time it stood on the eastern outskirts of the city. The two-story wood-frame, clapboard house has a bellcast mansard roof, a raised basement and a three-bay facade facing west. Two dormers with triangular pediments, a molded cornice, paired brackets and original shutters add to its character, and a front porch keeps its original railings and steps. A three-sided bay and rear porch are on the south side. Inside, period woodwork and chandeliers survive, and only one door has been closed off. The house sits on an unusually large lot, about one third of a block, with lawn and trees that recall its former rural setting. Its siting, condition and intact character led to its recognition as one of the two best Second Empire dwellings in the county.
Significance in brief: The house is described as a representative and exceptionally intact example of Second Empire residential architecture. It is noted for its siting on an unusually large lot covering one third of a block, which suggests its original rural setting. It is also cited as one of the two best examples of a Second Empire dwelling in the county.
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 82001140, listed November 26, 1982. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 140 S. Cherry St., Poughkeepsie |
|---|---|
| County | Dutchess County |
| Listed | November 26, 1982 |
| Reference number | 82001140 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Second Empire |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Used as a residence, as originally; condition listed as excellent with no major alterations. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 41.69594, -73.91755 (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 82001140.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5606971
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.