Cocks, Isaac, House
Why it's listed
Built around 1795 on Old Pleasant Hill Road in Cornwall, Orange County, this two and one-half story farmhouse is a well-preserved example of Federal period design. The wood frame house has clapboard siding, a gable roof with exposed rafters, brick end chimneys and a fieldstone basement. Its five-bay north facade centers on a six-panel door with a transom, sidelights and Federal style trim, and a Palladian window marks the east gable. Inside, the center hall plan survives with its original staircase, wide board flooring, Federal mantels, period trim and hand-hewn beams with interlocking joints. The house is believed to have been built by Isaac Cocks, an early Cornwall farmer who owned a large farm in the area. It reflects the town's growth after the Revolutionary War and is considered a rare intact farmhouse from that era. A restoration in 1986-87 removed a later kitchen wing. The property was listed for its architectural value.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues that the house is a representative, rare and intact example of a Federal period wood frame farmhouse from Cornwall's post-Revolutionary period. It keeps its original form, framing, floor plan and many interior features. It is also linked to Cornwall's growth after the Revolutionary War and to Isaac Cocks, an early resident and farmer.
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 96000153, listed March 8, 1996. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Old Pleasant Hill Rd., Cornwall |
|---|---|
| County | Orange County |
| Listed | March 8, 1996 |
| Reference number | 96000153 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | ca.1795 |
| Architect / builder | Believed to have been built by Isaac Cocks, a farmer; no architect named |
| Architectural style | Early Republic / Federal |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Used as a single-family dwelling; restored in 1986-87, when a non-historic one-story kitchen wing was removed. |
| Acreage | 1.5 |
| Coordinates | 41.42611, -74.06458 (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 96000153.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6076155
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.