Mulrien House
Why it's listed
Built in 1862, this small Gothic Cottage at 64 Montgomery Street in Poughkeepsie has been a residence throughout its life. It rises 1½ stories under a steeply pitched slate roof of many levels. A central cross gable forms the entryway and carries a curved, cut-out bargeboard with a pendant and spire ornament. Two narrow pointed-arch French windows open onto a small balcony above the front door, and Gothic pointed-arch molding is repeated across the facade. Inside, a black marble fireplace and a Gothic arch over the dining room bay window survive. City directories show James Mulrein, a plumber and gas fitter, as the owner. He later helped incorporate the Poughkeepsie Railroad Bridge and bought the Mansion House Hotel at auction. The house is valued as a typical, well-preserved example of mid-19th-century Gothic Cottage design and of Andrew Jackson Downing's picturesque ideas for modest homes.
Significance in brief: It is presented as a typical, intact example of the mid-19th-century Gothic Cottage mode, with a central cross gable, finial, drop pendant, looped bargeboard and Gothic-arched windows. Its form is tied to Andrew Jackson Downing's idea that the picturesque style suited everyone, from small cottages to large estates. It is also linked to James Mulrein, a plumber, gas fitter and local businessman.
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 82001153, listed November 26, 1982. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 64 Montgomery St., Poughkeepsie |
|---|---|
| County | Dutchess County |
| Listed | November 26, 1982 |
| Reference number | 82001153 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Gothic Cottage (mid-19th-century Gothic picturesque) |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed in excellent condition, with no major alterations, and still used as a residence. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 41.69971, -73.92566 (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 82001153.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14707038
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.