Rembrandt Hall
Why it's listed
Rembrandt Hall is a one and one-half story brick cottage built in 1851 on a knoll on Clinton Street in Keeseville, overlooking the village and the AuSable Valley. It was built for Emma North Peale Barton, daughter of the artist Rembrandt Peale. The symmetrical design features a central two-story entrance pavilion, bay windows, steep-pitched roof, decorative chimneys and a multi-gabled Gothic cupola, along with sawed bargeboards, label molding and turned finials. Isaac Perry designed the cottage, and he and his father Seneca Perry, noted local housewrights, built it. It was Isaac's last design before he left Keeseville for architectural training in New York City. The ornate freestanding circular staircase is considered among the finest surviving examples of the Perrys' work. Conversion to apartments in 1980 brought alterations, but the building retains substantial integrity of design, materials and workmanship and remains a prominent local landmark.
Significance in brief: It is described as an excellent example of regional Gothic Revival architecture and a prominent local landmark that enhances the village's architectural character. It was the last building designed by Isaac Perry before he left Keeseville for formal training in New York City. Its circular staircase, built by Seneca and Isaac Perry, is one of the finest surviving examples of their craftsmanship.
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 83001677, listed May 20, 1983. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Clinton St., Keeseville |
|---|---|
| County | Essex County |
| Listed | May 20, 1983 |
| Reference number | 83001677 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Architect Isaac Perry; erected by Seneca and Isaac Perry (staircase by Seneca and Isaac Perry) |
| Architectural style | Gothic Revival |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Converted to apartments in 1980; condition listed as fair, with deterioration noted as a threat. |
| Acreage | 2.6 |
| Coordinates | 44.50212, -73.47701 (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 83001677.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7311580
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.