Hill, Nathaniel, Brick House
Why it's listed
Set back 250 feet from NY Route 17K east of Montgomery, the Nathaniel Hill Brick House is an L-shaped, two-and-a-half-story brick farmhouse with a slate gabled roof. The main block dates from 1768 and a rear kitchen wing from 1774. Nathaniel Hill, whose fortune came from apple jack whiskey, bought several hundred acres in 1761 and built the house as his retirement home. Male Hill descendants owned it ever since. The house is one of four related Georgian houses built near Montgomery and New Windsor shortly before the Revolution, and the only brick one. It has a refined cornice with perforated dentils and modillions, a paneled east parlor fireplace wall with fluted pilasters, and seven fireplaces. A smokehouse, hay barn, shed and carriage house survive on the original acreage, and the rural surroundings remain largely intact. The property was given to Orange County to serve as a historical museum showing two centuries of one family's occupancy.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is a significant local landmark for its architectural distinction, its intact farm buildings and its link to the Hill family, early settlers of the Montgomery area. It is one of four related Georgian houses in the Montgomery-New Windsor area and the only one built of brick, with the most sophisticated Georgian cornice of the group. The original rural setting has also been preserved.
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 78001893, listed January 5, 1978. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | E of Montgomery on NY 17 K, Montgomery |
|---|---|
| County | Orange County |
| Listed | January 5, 1978 |
| Reference number | 78001893 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1700-1799 (specific dates 1768, 1774) |
| Architect / builder | Unknown |
| Architectural style | Georgian |
| Areas of significance | Exploration/Settlement, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Given to Orange County for use as a historical museum, with the original Hill furnishings to be left in place. A carriage house has recently been converted to a guest house. |
| Acreage | 37.5 |
| Coordinates | 41.52561, -74.17439 (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 78001893.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6969672
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.