Post-Williams House
Why it's listed
Built around 1877 at 44 South Clinton Street in Poughkeepsie, this Victorian house was designed and built by local architect and builder James S. Post. An 1876 atlas shows the lot undeveloped but marked with Post's name, and the first residential listing, for farmer William Williams, appears in the 1877-1878 directory. A ceiling medallion dated 1876 supports the early construction date. The house rises two and a half stories, with a three-and-a-half-story tower at one side, many roof levels, a curved and cut-out bargeboard, and two-story three-sided bays. Windows carry shallow pediments with incised foliate designs, and the front porch has bamboo-turned spindle decoration and chamfered columns. Inside, period woodwork, ceiling medallions, chandeliers and built-in cupboards survive intact. A carriage house on Montgomery Street, built between 1887 and 1895, has been converted to a residence. The house was recognized as one of the finest Victorian residences in the Poughkeepsie area.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it one of the finest examples of the Victorian Residential Style in Poughkeepsie and the surrounding area. Its distinctive tower, heavily molded lintels, decorative cut-work and three-sided bays are noted. The interior remains intact, with period woodwork, medallions, chandeliers and built-in cupboards.
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 82001158, listed November 26, 1982. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 44 S. Clinton St., Poughkeepsie |
|---|---|
| County | Dutchess County |
| Listed | November 26, 1982 |
| Reference number | 82001158 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | James S. Post of Poughkeepsie |
| Architectural style | Victorian Residential Style |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in excellent condition, with no major alterations listed, on its original site, and still used as a residence. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 41.69806, -73.92256 (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 82001158.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7233494
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.