Bull, William, III, House
Also known as: Brick Castle
Why it's listed
Brick Castle is a farmhouse on a ridge overlooking the Wallkill River valley near Montgomery in Orange County, New York. William Bull III built it around 1780, after the Revolutionary War, using local pinkish brick, which was unusual in a county where stone and frame were the norm. The two-story main block has four rooms, a kitchen wing, and originally a gambrel roof. Around 1830 the roof became a gable and Greek Revival trim was added, while the eighteenth-century stair, entrance door and several mantels were kept. The house is an outstanding example of the side-passage type common in the county. It also reflects the Bull family, descended from William Bull I, an English stonemason who arrived in 1716 and built up large landholdings. The farm has stayed in the family for seven generations. About 113 acres of cultivated fields, stone walls and a Victorian carriage barn preserve the setting.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is a distinguished example of the British vernacular masonry tradition in Orange County, showing change from the Federal to the Greek Revival period. It is also tied to the Bull family, early settlers who became prominent local leaders. Its brick construction was rare in the county, and it is an outstanding example of the side-passage house type.
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 86002772, listed September 25, 1986. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Bart Bull Rd., Montgomery |
|---|---|
| County | Orange County |
| Listed | September 25, 1986 |
| Reference number | 86002772 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1700-1799, 1800-1899 |
| Architect / builder | Builder/architect unknown (erected by William Bull III, according to the text) |
| Architectural style | Federal and Greek Revival; British vernacular side-passage house |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied private residence; described as remarkably intact to its 1830 renovation, with farmland still cultivated. |
| Acreage | 113.8 |
| Coordinates | 41.47293, -74.28902 (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 86002772.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q8006119
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.