Smith, John, Farm
Also known as: Slate Creek Farm
Why it's listed
This 199-acre farm along State Highway 80 near Hallsville, in the town of Minden, grew from a c1834 farmstead into a large dairy operation. The main house is a two-and-a-half-story brick and frame building on a cut limestone foundation. It was raised and updated around 1860-70 with scroll-sawn brackets, a frieze band with small windows and a robust front door surround. Inside are a double-pile plan, faux bois painted woodwork, a curved stair and a rear service block with a historic kitchen and butler's pantry. Surrounding buildings include a gambrel-roofed dairy barn with silo, a carriage house and granary, a chicken coop, a corn crib, a hog pen, a scale house and a farm manager's house. Eight resources contribute and one does not. Census records from 1860 show John Smith's wealth was nearly double that of neighbouring farmers, and he led the local cheese factory association. The farm reflects the Mohawk Valley area's dairying and cheese economy and its mid-nineteenth-century architecture.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the farm is significant for architecture and agriculture. The house combines Greek Revival and Italian Villa elements, and the farmstead shows the area's shift to dairying and cheese production in the nineteenth century. John Smith was a prosperous dairyman and president of the local cheese factory association.
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 11001061, listed January 31, 2012. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 1059 NY 80, Hallsville |
|---|---|
| County | Montgomery County |
| Listed | January 31, 2012 |
| Reference number | 11001061 |
| Resource type | District |
| Period of significance | c1834-1961 |
| Architectural style | Mid-19th Century: Greek Revival, Italian Villa |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Agriculture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Main house is still used as a single dwelling; one late 20th century ranch house is noncontributing. |
| Coordinates | 42.93629, -74.72934 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
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 11001061.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q23092080
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.