Palatine Bridge Freight House
Why it's listed
This long, low limestone freight house sits at the eastern edge of Palatine Bridge, wedged between Route 5 and the New York Central tracks, with the Mohawk River just beyond. Roughly three hundred feet long and thirty feet wide, it has gray coursed rubble walls, seven evenly spaced openings on each long side, and a low gabled roof with overhanging eaves. Inside, two hewn queen post trusses at the center support a hoist, though the platform scales have collapsed. It was probably built in the 1850s, although 1861 is painted on a rafter. That decade saw freight traffic grow after canal tolls on railroad freight were abolished and the New York Central was formed in 1852, prompting heavy spending on freight houses. The building served as a storage point for goods moving through the Mohawk Valley and is the earliest surviving freight station in its area. It is probably linked to Webster Wagner, a local station agent and sleeping car inventor. It is no longer in use.
Significance in brief: The building is an impressive functional stone structure tied to the expansion and consolidation of New York railroad lines in the 1850s. It is the earliest surviving freight station in its area. It was one of the storage points for freight moving through the Mohawk Valley and is probably connected with railroad agent and sleeping car inventor Webster Wagner.
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 73001208, listed March 7, 1973. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | E of Palatine Bridge on NY 5, Palatine Bridge |
|---|---|
| County | Montgomery County |
| Listed | March 7, 1973 |
| Reference number | 73001208 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1850's |
| Areas of significance | Transportation, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in good condition and altered; the freight house is not used today. |
| Coordinates | 42.91019, -74.56592 (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.
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
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 73001208.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7126806
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.