Phillips House
Why it's listed
Built in 1891 at 18 Barclay Street in Poughkeepsie, this Queen Anne-style house was constructed for Walter C. Phillips, a local hardware merchant. It is a clapboard wood-frame dwelling with a slate roof, asymmetrical rooflines, scalloped shingles and spool decoration. A porch with turned posts and balusters runs across the front, and the carved oak front door has a bevelled glass window and stained glass sidelights. Inside, glazed-tile fireplace surrounds and an elaborate oak-paneled front hall survive. The hall includes oak screens, a winding staircase and an inglenook bench, all features associated with Poughkeepsie architect William J. Beardsley, who used a drawing of such a hall in his city directory advertisements around 1900. The house is recognized as one of the most representative and elaborate homes of its era in the city. Its largely unaltered condition and its position on a slight hill add to its importance. It stands in the same block as the South Hamilton Street Row.
Significance in brief: The house is described as one of the most representative and elaborate dwellings of its period in Poughkeepsie. Its oak-paneled front hall, with screens, a winding staircase and inglenook bench, reflects the signature work of local architect William J. Beardsley. It also gains significance from its intact condition and its siting on a slight hill.
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 82001157, listed November 26, 1982. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 18 Barclay St., Poughkeepsie |
|---|---|
| County | Dutchess County |
| Listed | November 26, 1982 |
| Reference number | 82001157 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Queen Anne |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed in excellent condition, with no alterations noted; still used as a residence. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 41.69765, -73.92641 (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 82001157.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7185909
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.