Butler, Walter, Homestead
Also known as: Butlersbury
Why it's listed
Butlersbury is an 18th century farmhouse set on high ground above the Mohawk Valley near Fonda, New York. Lt. Walter Butler, an officer in the Independent Companies on the colonial frontier, received a share of a Crown land grant confirmed in 1735 and built the house in 1742. It measures about forty by thirty feet, with hewn timber construction, a limestone block foundation and wide hand-planed pine joists. His son John Butler later ran the estate from here, with tenants, cleared farmland, barns and slaves, and hosted figures such as Sir William Johnson. In 1775 John Butler and his eldest son Walter left for Canada as Loyalists, and the family's property was confiscated and sold between 1784 and 1790. Militia detachments were stationed at the house during the Revolution. The building was restored from a dilapidated state, and the site has seen little disturbance beyond farming, giving it possible archeological value.
Significance in brief: The house retains many original features and recalls the Butler family, early settlers who played a role in the turbulent years before and during the Revolution. John Butler ran his landholdings and entertained Sir William Johnson's circle here before leaving as a Loyalist in 1775. The undisturbed site may also have considerable archeological value.
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 76001229, listed June 23, 1976. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | NE of Fonda on Old Trail Rd., Fonda |
|---|---|
| County | Montgomery County |
| Listed | June 23, 1976 |
| Reference number | 76001229 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1742 |
| Architect / builder | Walter Butler |
| Areas of significance | Military, Exploration/Settlement |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as occupied private residence in good condition; the attached early 20th century house is empty and deteriorating, and the 18th century house was restored by the present owner. |
| Acreage | 2 |
| Coordinates | 42.96205, -74.35417 (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 76001229.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7964446
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.