Milliken-Smith Farm
Also known as: Smith Farm
Why it's listed
Set east of the Wallkill River near the hamlet of Montgomery, this roughly 8-acre farm centers on a frame house that grew in two stages a century apart. The rear section was built in 1770 for James Milliken as a one and one-half story timber-frame dwelling. About 1870 a two-story front block with Stick and Chalet style details was added, giving the house its present look. Nearby stands a large hand-hewn timber-frame barn that may date to the 1770s, along with a c. 1900 chicken house and a banded wood silo. James Milliken, a captain in the Second Ulster Militia, died with two brothers in the defense of Fort Montgomery in October 1777. His family, Scots-Irish settlers from County Londonderry, held the land until the mid-19th century, and later the Smith and Nydam families owned it. The farm was listed for its architecture and its link to early settlement of the area.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the farm is significant for its architecture and for early settlement, recording the Milliken family's presence in the area in the 18th and early 19th centuries. Captain James Milliken, who built the earliest part of the house, was one of three brothers killed defending Fort Montgomery in 1777. The c. 1870 Stick style addition and a largely intact hand-hewn timber-frame barn illustrate changing building practices.
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 09000158, listed March 25, 2009. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 279 Bailey Rd., Montgomery |
|---|---|
| County | Orange County |
| Listed | March 25, 2009 |
| Reference number | 09000158 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1770-1900 |
| Architectural style | Late Victorian: Stick style |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Exploration/Settlement |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still used as a single dwelling with agricultural storage and field uses; the house and larger barn have been modified for modern use. |
| Acreage | 8.6 |
| Coordinates | 41.53664, -74.20839 (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 09000158.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6859631
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.