Vassar-Warner Row
Why it's listed
Vassar-Warner Row is a roughly two-acre group of four buildings along South Hamilton Street in Poughkeepsie, near Montgomery Street and Hooker Avenue. Its anchor is a massive three-story brick Greek Revival building of 1837 with full-height Ionic columns and porches at each story. It first housed the Dutchess County Academy, the city's oldest school for young men, and was later sold to the city for a public school. J. Rowland Warner then bought it and founded the Old Ladies Home there in 1871. An 1898 rear wing, designed by Corydon Wheeler, expanded the institution. To the north stand three Queen Anne-style houses built between about 1884 and 1889, using brick, stone, slate, clapboards and shingles. They are asymmetrical, two and a half stories tall, and show varied design choices within the style. Lawns and trees give the row a private feel only a few blocks from the city center. The group retains period integrity.
Significance in brief: The 1837 building was the second home of the Dutchess County Academy, the oldest school in Poughkeepsie, and later became the Old Ladies Home founded in 1871. The three Queen Anne houses to the north are fine representative examples of the style and show the variety of design choices within it. Together the buildings show period integrity and distinctive characteristics for the city.
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 82001170, listed November 26, 1982. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | S. Hamilton from Montgomery to 40 Hamilton St., Poughkeepsie |
|---|---|
| County | Dutchess County |
| Listed | November 26, 1982 |
| Reference number | 82001170 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Corydon Wheeler (1898 rear wing of the Vassar-Warner Home) |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival (Vassar-Warner Home); Queen Anne (three residences) |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The inventory lists no threats to the area. The city recently installed bluestone and brick sidewalks, and the Vassar-Warner Home still appears to function as the Old Ladies Home. |
| Acreage | 2 |
| Coordinates | 41.69943, -73.92446 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
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 82001170.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7916906
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.