Layman, Frank D., Memorial
Why it's listed
Set into a bend of the Escarpment Trail on South Mountain, this pyramidal fieldstone monument rises about eleven feet from a base roughly seven feet across. Local stone is laid in mortar in regular courses, topped by three capstones and a small boulder. A marble tablet on the west face honors Frank D. Layman of Haines Falls, who died on August 10, 1900, while fighting a forest fire that threatened nearby homes and hotels. Residents of Haines Falls and Twilight Park began raising the memorial almost at once. In March 1901 a hotel owner deeded a small parcel for it to the Twilight Park Association, and the monument was finished within a year for about $750. Its cairn-like form and local materials give it a rustic character suited to the setting above Kaaterskill Clove. It is valued as a locally significant example of wayside monument design and as a lasting tribute to Layman's sacrifice. Residents held a ceremony there in 2000, a century after his death.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the memorial is a locally significant example of rustic wayside monument design, built from indigenous fieldstone in a cairn-like form suited to its site. It commemorates Frank Layman, who died fighting a forest fire on August 10, 1900, and has come to symbolize the contribution of firefighters. It also expresses local craftsmanship and a strong sense of place.
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 03000022, listed June 6, 2003. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Near Kaaterskill Falls, Hunter |
|---|---|
| County | Greene County |
| Listed | June 6, 2003 |
| Reference number | 03000022 |
| Resource type | Object |
| Period of significance | c. 1901 |
| Architect / builder | Not known (the Terns brothers, masons from Haines Falls, probably designed and built it, though this is unconfirmed) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Survives nearly as built in 1901 with a relatively high degree of integrity, except for erosion and moisture undermining rocks at the north corner of the base. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.19008, -74.06479 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For a publicly owned building or structure, listing mainly matters when federal funds, permits or licences are involved: projects then go through Section 106 review so effects on the property are considered. Listing also strengthens applications for preservation grants and, for leased income-producing uses, can enable the federal rehabilitation tax credit.
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 03000022.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5486123
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.