Progue House
Why it's listed
Set on a 95.1-acre farmstead along the old, bypassed stretch of Primrose Hill Road in southeastern Rhinebeck, this two-story stone farmhouse dates to 1763, according to its date stone. Built of locally quarried, rusticated random-course stone into a hillside, it has a gable roof, brick end chimneys and clapboard-finished gable peaks, as in other German stone farmhouses of the region. A one-and-one-half-story frame wing was added around the mid-nineteenth century. Inside, a wide center hall is flanked by parlors, and the original kitchen, a Federal staircase and simple woodwork survive. The house matters because most comparable stone houses began as small one-room buildings and grew over time, while this large block appears to have been built all at once with a balanced Georgian-style plan. A barn, sheds and a privy from the mid- to late nineteenth century, together with open farmland and woods, preserve the setting of a long-working farm.
Significance in brief: The house is argued to be a rare, intact example of an eighteenth-century rural vernacular stone farmhouse in the local German (presumably Palatine) building tradition. Unlike most regional examples, which grew in stages, its large stone block appears to have been built as one unit with a Georgian-inspired center-hall plan. The surviving nineteenth-century outbuildings and rural setting add to its value as evidence of Hudson Valley farming.
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 87001072, listed July 9, 1987. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Primrose Hill Rd., Rhinebeck |
|---|---|
| County | Dutchess County |
| Listed | July 9, 1987 |
| Reference number | 87001072 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Regional ethnic (German/Palatine) vernacular stone farmhouse with Georgian-inspired center-hall plan |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Agriculture, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as a private residence in fair condition, with original site and interior features largely intact; no threats known. |
| Acreage | 95.1 |
| Coordinates | 41.88879, -73.88340 (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 87001072.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7248893
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.