Crawford, David, House
Approximate location: the National Park Service places this pin arbitrarily within the property, not at a surveyed point (stated accuracy ±12 m).
Why it's listed
Overlooking the Hudson River at the corner of Clinton and Montgomery Streets in Newburgh, this house was built around 1829-31 for David Crawford, a merchant who leased the lot from the Glebe Episcopal Church in 1830. The two-and-one-half story building has a gable roof, a rectangular plan and clapboard over a brick-lined timber frame. A tall pedimented portico with Ionic columns and a Palladian window marks the east front, and a brick-floored loggia runs beneath the porch. Inside, a carved front door, a curved stair with a dolphin-like newel post, black marble fireplaces and carved door and window ornament repeat the exterior's classical themes. Crawford, a War of 1812 captain, prospered in river freight and steamboats and supported local plank roads, railroads and banks. The architect's name is not known. The Historical Society of Newburgh Bay and the Highlands bought the house in 1953 and restored its rear garden in 1968. It is recognized as a local landmark.
Significance in brief: The house reflects the nineteenth-century prosperity of its owner and of Newburgh, once a fashionable river city. Crawford built a successful career in shipping and steamboat freighting and helped promote local roads, railroads and banks. The house is also noted for its fine architectural detail and is considered a well-known local landmark.
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 72000899, listed September 27, 1972. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 189 Montgomery St., Newburgh |
|---|---|
| County | Orange County |
| Listed | September 27, 1972 |
| Reference number | 72000899 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 19th Century (specific date 1829-31) |
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Transportation, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in excellent condition and unaltered on its original site; used as the home and museum of the Historical Society of Newburgh Bay and the Highlands, which bought it in 1953. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | East End Historic District |
| Coordinates | 41.50905, -74.00802 (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 72000899.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5232651
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.