Strong, Elijah, House
Why it's listed
Built around 1797 on the north side of NY 23 at the western edge of Ashland, this two-story timber frame house has a five-by-two bay form, a stone foundation and a gable roof with a finely crafted cornice that forms full pediments at the ends. About 1830 a major renovation added an elaborate Greek Revival entrance with a paneled surround, Ionic fluted columns, sidelights and a one-and-one-half story rear wing. Inside, a central hall keeps its delicate Federal stair, and the west parlor has an early Greek Revival mantel. The kitchen retains its original cooking fireplace and baking oven. The house is tied to Elijah Strong, a farmer, hotelkeeper and church deacon, whose father Elisha Strong settled much of the land that became Ashland. It was listed as an outstanding regional example of Federal architecture, with Greek Revival alterations, that retains a high degree of integrity. Restoration of the original clapboards was underway when it was nominated.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is an outstanding regional example of Federal style residential architecture in western Greene County. It gains added interest from its Greek Revival alterations, especially the recessed Ionic-columned entry. It also reflects the wealth of the Strong family and recalls the early development of Ashland.
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 02001711, listed January 15, 2003. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 12278 NY 23, Ashland |
|---|---|
| County | Greene County |
| Listed | January 15, 2003 |
| Reference number | 02001711 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | ca.1797-ca.1835 |
| Architectural style | Early Republic/Federal; Mid-19th Century/Greek Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Used as a single dwelling; the form describes an ongoing restoration, including uncovering original clapboards beneath mid-twentieth century synthetic siding. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.30389, -74.34138 (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 02001711.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5360998
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.