Bookstaver, Jacob, House
Why it's listed
Set on a 122-acre tract of mostly open fields in the agricultural north end of Montgomery, New York, this farmhouse began as a pioneer dwelling around 1750 and was enlarged around 1845-50. The two-story, five-bay main block sits on a raised stone foundation. Its Greek Revival additions include a paneled front door with sidelights and pilasters, wide window lintels, corner pilasters and a broad cornice. Inside, exposed beaded beams, early paneled doors, a forged thumb latch and Germanic strap hinges survive from the eighteenth century, alongside Greek Revival woodwork in the hall and parlor. A large early-1800s barn is also part of the property. Jacob Bookstaver was among the first German settlers in Montgomery and a founder of the German Reformed Church, and his family held the farm for nearly 150 years. The property was listed for showing how local farmhouse building and farm life changed from the colonial period to the mid-nineteenth century.
Significance in brief: The house is significant architecturally as an intact settlement-era farmhouse that was later enlarged in the Greek Revival style. It shows the shift from plain eighteenth-century pioneer farmhouses to the standardized styles of the second quarter of the nineteenth century. The farm setting and barn show how a working farmstead developed over time. It is also linked to Jacob Bookstaver, one of the earliest settlers of Montgomery.
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 96000558, listed June 3, 1996. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 198 Schmitt Ln., Montgomery |
|---|---|
| County | Orange County |
| Listed | June 3, 1996 |
| Reference number | 96000558 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | ca.1750 - ca. 1845 |
| Architectural style | Mid-19th Century/Greek Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Currently used as a single dwelling; a 1980s west addition and a 1915 garage are noted as modern or non-contributing elements. |
| Acreage | 122 |
| Coordinates | 41.55706, -74.24274 (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 96000558.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6118398
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.