McComb, Peter and Karen, House
Why it's listed
Set at the edge of a steep, wooded ridge east of Poughkeepsie, this house was built in 1950-51 and designed by the internationally known architect Marcel Breuer. It began as a small T-shaped building with a living, kitchen and dining wing to the south, a children's wing to the north, and a lower service wing to the east. Its roofs over the north and south wings slope upward from the entrance hall in Breuer's characteristic butterfly form. The walls are cypress paneling stained walnut, the west side is almost entirely glass, and the windows are trimmed with panels in a shade known as Breuer Blue. The house was extended in 1962, 1986 and 1994 in matching materials and style, and the original room divisions and many interior details survive, including slate floors and a brick fireplace with a round metal chimney. A winding entrance drive sited by Breuer and the wooded setting remain largely unchanged. The house is valued as an intact example of his domestic work.
Significance in brief: The nomination presents the house as a work of internationally known architect Marcel Breuer and an example of his residential designs, with its butterfly roof and separate wings for family, children and service functions. It argues the house keeps a high degree of integrity in setting, plan and materials despite several compatible additions.
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 08000098, listed August 12, 2009. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 27 Hornbeck Ridge, Poughkeepsie |
|---|---|
| County | Dutchess County |
| Listed | August 12, 2009 |
| Reference number | 08000098 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Marcel Breuer (architect) |
| Architectural style | Modern Movement |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still used as a single dwelling. Additions were made in 1962, 1986 and 1994, and the house is described as retaining a high degree of integrity. |
| Acreage | 3.3 |
| Coordinates | 41.66928, -73.88784 (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 08000098.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q23091928
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.