St. Margaret's Home
Why it's listed
Built in 1852-53 on the east side of US 9 just south of Red Hook village, St. Margaret's Home is a compact brick building in the Italian Villa style, with brownstone trim, a hipped roof with a center gable, and a porch of fluted cast-iron columns. It was founded by Margaret Rebecca Armstrong Astor, wife of William B. Astor, as a refuge for neglected girls, and it was later supported by the Chanler family. The builder was James Webb, while the architect remains unidentified; the design closely follows Andrew Jackson Downing's 'Small Southern Country House.' The home operated as a private charity for 86 years, an unusual rural institution at a time when similar children's homes were located in population centers. After it closed in the 1930s it served as a family residence and later as a transitional living center. It has stood vacant since 1991, and the barn behind it also survives. It is significant for its architecture and its place in local social history.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is a distinctive example of mid-19th century domestic architecture in Dutchess County. It is also an early privately financed welfare institution in the county, operated by the Astor family and their Chanler descendants for 86 years. Its design closely matches a Downing 'Small Southern Country House' plan.
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 06000883, listed September 28, 2006. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 7260 South Broadway, Red Hook |
|---|---|
| County | Dutchess County |
| Listed | September 28, 2006 |
| Reference number | 06000883 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1851-1935 |
| Architect / builder | Architect unknown; contract let to James Webb (builder) in 1852 |
| Architectural style | Mid-19th century: Italian Villa |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Social History |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Vacant since 1991 and beginning to deteriorate from lack of maintenance; most of the surrounding land was recently developed with a supermarket. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 41.98106, -73.88207 (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.
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
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 06000883.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7589866
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.