Van Gelder, David, Octagon House
Also known as: Springside
Why it's listed
Built about 1860 on Division Street in the Village of Catskill, this eight-sided brick house was raised for David Van Gelder on land his father, Peter, bought in the village. David was also a noted builder of covered bridges in the region. The house follows the octagon form promoted by phrenologist Orson Squire Fowler in 1848, with four large rooms around a central stair hall that rises to a cupola, and small triangular spaces serving as entry, study, pantry and closets. Italianate details include bracketed eaves, round-arched cupola windows, paneled pilasters, marble mantels and original architraves. A triangular brick kitchen wing was probably added in the mid-1870s. It is the only octagon house in Greene County and one of about 120 identified in New York State. Years of neglect left the house and its Picturesque grounds overgrown and damaged, but it remains largely intact and is being restored.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is a rare surviving example of the Octagon mode in the Upper Hudson Valley and the only one of its type in Greene County, one of 120 octagons identified in New York State. It follows Orson Squire Fowler's 'superior plan' and also shows Italianate features, making it an important regional example of that style. It retains a high degree of architectural integrity despite neglect.
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 97001620, listed January 16, 1998. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 47 Division St., Catskill |
|---|---|
| County | Greene County |
| Listed | January 16, 1998 |
| Reference number | 97001620 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | ca.1860 |
| Architectural style | Mid-19th Century/Octagon Mode, with Italianate detailing |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as suffering neglect and water damage over the past decade but remarkably intact and undergoing an extensive private restoration; grounds were overgrown and being cleared. |
| Acreage | 2.2 |
| Coordinates | 42.21787, -73.87338 (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 97001620.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5240603
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.